Received this e-mail today from Russ Feingold’s (D. WI) U.S. Senate campaign:
Friend,
On this day 51 years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law.
President Lyndon B. Johnson's vision was simple: To lend a hand to Americans struggling to get the care they need, and to ensure health care security for retired Americans. These programs have become essential, cherished institutions. Medicaid has provided a safety net for millions of low-income Americans, children, women, and people with disabilities, while Medicare has become a bedrock of American retirement.
But Republicans in the party of Trump, like Senator Ron Johnson, have one thing on their minds: slashing and gutting Medicaid and Medicare -- which would be devastating. Senator Johnson even said he'd like to turn Medicare into a voucher program. It's shameful.
On the 51st anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare, we need to commit to expanding and protecting -- not slashing and cutting -- these vital programs. If you agree, add your name next to mine right now.
As Russ has traveled across Wisconsin, he's heard from people of all backgrounds, many of who rely on Medicare and Medicaid. Russ knows these programs are a true lifeline for so many -- not just another program for huge corporate interests and insurance companies to put on the chopping block.
It's abundantly clear that Senator Johnson hasn't listened -- at all -- to the concerns of Wisconsinites whose mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, and sisters and brothers depend on these crucial programs to preserve their health and extend their lives. Billionaires and multi-millionaires like Senator Johnson don't know what it's like to worry about health coverage: they can pay to visit the world's best doctors with cash.
Middle-class and working families in Wisconsin can't do that. That's why today, on the 51st anniversary of the creation of Medicare and Medicaid, we must stand together in their defense -- and against politicians like Senator Johnson, who aren't listening to everyday Americans.
Help us send Senator Johnson a message: We must protect and expand Medicare and Medicaid. Add your name and show you support America's safety net today.
Thanks for taking action.
Michael Tyler
Communications Director
Click here to add your name.