Dear editor:
Rep. Harriet Hageman came to Pinedale this week well-scripted and ready to show off legislative accomplishments, both for Wyoming and at the federal level at large.
All of her talking points require scrutiny, here is just one egregious example:
The Big Beautiful Bill will enhance medical services in Wyoming.
This could not be more misleading. She stated that because Wyoming did not expand coverage with the ACA, we are immune to cuts in Medicaid. Wrong!
Independent reporting from Wyofile and the Natrona Collective Health Trust indicate that over 12,000 Wyomingites could lose insurance, market place tax credits will get eliminated making health insurance even more expensive for low income citizens as well as elderly individuals not quite qualified for Medicare, strain rural hospitals even further potentially causing closures, cost Wyoming hundreds of jobs in medical personnel annually and shrink the state’s economy by an estimated $140 million over 5 years.
Over 60,000 citizens in Wyoming are on Medicaid, which should be a concern in itself. This bill expands well beyond insured individuals and will have huge impacts on our economic health as well. The BBB will absolutely impact Wyoming health care in a negative way, there is no reality in which this is good for us.
Also, Hageman gets 72-75% of her health care premiums paid for by the federal government.
Her statement that she pays excessively through the ACA is cherry picking garbage.
At least own up to the fact that you pay WAY less than the average person because the federal government subsidizes your health care in a significant way.
Lies abounded regarding public broadcasting (which has HIGH factual reporting scores), public land sales (NOT a housing solution), immigration raids (70% of detained immigrants have NO criminal record thus far) and even USAID.
Hold Hageman accountable for blatant dishonesty.
Sincerely,
Noah Chutz, Pinedale
