Letters

Earlier this year, when the House GOP budget proposal was first revealed, our congressman, Nick LaLota, criticized the “harsh reality” of the $36 trillion national debt. Yet the budget bill he just voted for increases the national debt by about $4 trillion.

Mr. LaLota also told us his priority would be to protect programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. He even signed a letter in April to House leadership in which he and other GOP House members pledged not to cut Medicaid. Yet he now just voted exactly the opposite.

Mr. LaLota voted for $715 billion in cuts to Medicaid that would cause 8 million Americans to lose Medicaid eligibility. In addition to the cuts to Medicaid, the tax bill he voted for will force cuts to Medicare of almost $500 million. The Congressional Budget Office has said that such cuts are required because of the $2.3 trillion increase in the deficit.

Does Mr. LaLota not care that Medicaid pays for care for 64 percent of New Yorkers living in nursing homes? It also pays for community-based services for seniors and people with disabilities.

In our district, more than 10 percent of his constituents under the age of 65 have Medicaid protection, as do more than 13 percent of children under the age of 19; almost 10 percent between the ages of 19 and 65 look to Medicaid for security, and almost 15 percent of are covered by Medicare.

Mr. LaLota proudly takes credit for moving the SALT tax credit from 10 percent to 40 percent. Of course, it’s his GOP that lowered the tax credit during President Donald Trump’s first term. Congressman LaLota is like an arsonist who sets a fire and then shows up to help put it out.

Maybe, in reconciliation, the Senate will save us from Nick LaLota’s irresponsible House votes. I wouldn’t bet on it, but maybe.

Robert Wick

Amagansett