Press Release National
Memos & Media Guidance
MEMO: Republicans Said We’d “Get Over” Losing Our Health Care. We Didn’t.
REPUBLICANS SAID WEâD âGET OVERâ LOSING OUR HEALTH CARE. WE DIDNâT.
How Reproductive Freedom for All took action to hold Republicans accountable for their disastrous budget bill during August Recess
After passing a deadly budget bill in July to gut Medicaid and defund Planned Parenthood, Republicans twisted the knife by outright lying about the impacts of the bill and mocking their constituents for being concerned about losing their health care. Sen. Mitch McConnell said voters would âget overâ losing Medicaid. Rep. David Schweikert in Arizona said voters were âwhiningâ and âbed wetting.â Lawmakers in California, Georgia, and Nevada outright lied about the bill.
And then these same Republicans were too spineless to show up to town halls and answer to their constituents directly.
So Reproductive Freedom for All brought the fight to them. During August Recess, we:
- Hosted 88 events nationally and in our key chapter states
- Drove almost 7,000 calls and over 60,000 texts to members urging them to contact their representatives who voted for the budget bill
- Received almost 2,000 social media shares from our August Recess accountability toolkit
- Registered 8,000 new supporters
Hereâs what Republicans said about the budgetâand how Reproductive Freedom for All worked to hold them accountable throughout August:
NATIONAL
In their own words: Sen. Mitch McConnell reassured Republicans in the Senate that voters would âget overâ Medicaid being gutted after facing backlash from constituents.
Reproductive Freedom for All hosted several virtual trainings throughout August, including a series to empower members to lobby their representatives and hold rallies in their own districts in response to the passage of the disastrous budget bill.
Reproductive Freedom for All national organizers also led a digital week of action in August that included phonebanks and textbanks. Volunteers sent texts and made calls urging members across the country to contact their representatives and hold them accountable for voting against their wishes and well-being.
ARIZONA
In their own words: Rep. David Schweikert, who fell asleep during a critical vote on the budget bill, said people who are concerned about their health care being ripped away are âwhiningâ and âbed wetting.â
During August Recess, Reproductive Freedom for All Arizona hosted the âSleepy Schweikert Snoozefest,â a Pajama Protest to hold Rep. Schweikert accountable for sleeping through a major vote on the federal budget bill, which makes deep cuts to Medicaid and defunds Planned Parenthood. In Arizona, 360,000 people are at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage, and rural hospitals stand to lose $1.2 billion over 10 years.
During the event, almost 100 Reproductive Freedom for All Arizona volunteers and community members gathered in their pajamas to write postcards to Schweikertâs office, play Sleepy Schweikert trivia to educate voters on his anti-abortion record, and hear personal testimonies from people who will be directly impacted by Medicaid cuts.
Reproductive Freedom for All Arizona members at the âSleepy Schweikert Snoozefestâ
Reproductive Freedom for All Arizona also joined Worker Power and Good Trouble Action Group to gather over 140 people for a picket outside the auto dealership of Jim Click, a prominent GOP donor who has bankrolled many GOP campaignsâincluding Representative Juan Ciscomani. Jim Click helped get Ciscomani to DC, where he could vote to pass Trumpâs budget bill that will hurt hardworking Arizonans while giving tax breaks to billionaires.
Phoenix New Times: Activists don pajamas to troll GOP Rep. David Schweikert
Tucson Spotlight: Tucson protesters take aim at political backers
Over 140 Arizonans picketed outside GOP mega donor Jim Clickâs auto dealership.
CALIFORNIA
In their own words: Following their vote, both Reps. Young Kim and Ken Calvert sent out statements outright lying about how this bill wonât slash funding for Medicaid.
Reproductive Freedom for All California made their voices heard by holding meetings with the representatives who arenât hiding from constituents, having conversations in the community, and spreading awareness about the deadly budget bill.
Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju joined members in Orange County for a coffee to talk about what is at stake for reproductive care in California. The meeting was held in CD-40, Rep. Young Kimâs district, who is avoiding constituents after voting to gut health care for millions of Californians.
Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO with members in Orange County.
Members also rallied to hold Rep. Kim accountable for her vote to gut Medicaid after repeatedly promising not to take away health care.
Reproductive Freedom for All California members rallying in CD-40 to hold Rep. Young Kim accountable.
In CD-22 and CD-41, members hung up and projected âMissing Personâ flyers of Representatives Ken Calvert and David Valadao. Reps. Calvert and Valadao voted for Trumpâs budget bill after promising not to gut Californians’ access to health care. Since that deadly vote, they have both refused to meet with constituents and face the consequences of their actions.
Reproductive Freedom for All California members holding âmissing personâ flyers depicting Rep. Ken Calvert.
A mobile âMissing Personâ billboard depicting Rep. David Valadao.
GEORGIA
In their own words: Rep. Rick Allen falsely told constituents that Trumpâs budget bill, which he voted to pass, will not impact access to health care in Georgia.
Reproductive Freedom for All Georgia hosted a town hall in Rep. Allenâs district during August Recess. Dozens of members and volunteers came, and he was invited to attend to answer questions from voters about the budget bill, but he couldnât be bothered to show up.
Rep. Allenâs claim that Georgians will not be impacted by Republicansâ budget bill hinges on the fact that Georgia has not expanded Medicaid. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Republicans have failed for years to expand Medicaid, and Georgians have paid the price. But we know this deadly bill will worsen health care access in the state.
Reproductive Freedom for All Georgia at a town hall in Rep. Allenâs district.
NEVADA
In their own words: After it was signed into law, Gov. Joe Lombardo said Nevadans should be âexcitedâ about the budget bill that will cost them and their families dearly.
Reproductive Freedom for All Nevada hosted a roundtable discussion with Rep. Steven Horsford to highlight the devastating impacts of the GOPâs federal budget bill on reproductive health care access, equity, and delivery of care in the state.
Reproductive Freedom for All Director of Nevada Campaigns Denise Lopez moderated the discussion with Rep. Horsford and local leaders in the fight to protect access to reproductive care, health care providers, and public health experts.
Reproductive Freedom for All Nevada members at a town hall with Rep. Steven Horsford.
Reproductive Freedom for All Nevada also hosted a town hall in Reno to highlight the consequences of Trumpâs budget bill that Rep. Mark Amodei voted to pass, and Gov. Joe Lombardoâs vetoes on critical bills that wouldâve expanded access to reproductive care and further protected reproductive health care providers.
Both elected officials were invited to attend the town hall to hear from some of the more than 100,000 Nevadans who will be kicked off their health care because of the budget they backed, but neither showed up.
KOLO: Reproductive Freedom for All Nevada’s Reverse Town Hall
Nevada Current: What role will reproductive rights play in the 2026 election?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
In the Media â Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju outlined the stakes of Trump and the GOPâs big, ugly bill with numerous media appearances throughout July and August:
- “We’ve got to go for the jugular.”- Reproductive Freedom for All president Mini Timmaraju tells us how to shut down Republicans (Jessica Valenti via Substack)
- âThey say âleave it to the states.â Their budget bill says otherwise.â (The Weeknight on MSNBC)
- âWeâre living in a forced birth nation, and now theyâre defunding the program that covers births.â (Mornings With Zerlina)
Budget Impacts â Since the passage of Republicansâ budget bill in July, Reproductive Freedom for All has put out numerous memos and statements to call out Republicans who voted for the budget bill and highlight its devastating impacts across the country:
- MEMO: Trumpâs âBig, Beautiful Billâ and the GOP Agenda Are Gutting Reproductive FreedomâLatinas Will Pay the Highest Price
- NEW ANALYSIS: How the GOP Budget Bill Will Impact Access to Health and Reproductive Care Across the Country
- SHOTS/CHASER: Reps. Young Kim and Ken Calvert Repeatedly Promised NOT to Vote for Medicaid Cuts, Then Voted for Medicaid Cuts
- Reproductive Freedom for All Michigan Unveils Billboards Reminding Voters that Reps. Barrett and James are Hiding After Supporting the Deadly Budget Bill
Endorsements â Reproductive Freedom for All rolled out several endorsements in August, including Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford for Governor and Nevada Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro for Nevada Attorney General, and three Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (SCOPA) justices standing for retention in the 2025 General Election.