Attend a Town Hall while Congress is in Recess!

With Congress in recess for the month of August, now is the time to make your appointments and attend town hall meetings to raise your voice. We must make sure our US Senators and US Representatives understand how important Medicaid is to us here in Georgia. With cuts to Medicaid proposed in the federal budget, as well as the healthcare debate in Washington continuing, we cannot relax. We must keep educating!

There are two things you should be doing.

1. Attend a Town Hall where your Congressmen make themselves available for discussion and questions.

We know that Senator Johnny Isakson is holding a town hall on Monday, August 14 in Kennesaw. Since Senator Isakson represents the whole state of Georgia, we encourage everyone to attend and raise their voice. Click here to go to Facebook and RSVP that you are going!

Town Hall Details:  Monday, August 14, 2017 at 6:30 pm. Doors open at 6:00pm - we encourage you to come early to ensure you get a seat.

Kennesaw State University
Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center
488 Prillaman Way
Kennesaw, Ga. 30144

Parking will be available for visitors at the Central Parking Deck at Parliament Garden Way. To learn more, visit https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/town-hall-meetings   

If you do attend Senator Isakson's town hall, please consider asking one of the following questions. It is important that you be polite but persistent.

  1. In your July telephone town hall, you committed to never knowingly vote to cut a developmental disability benefit. Later in the month, you voted for all four of the Senate health care bills which cut and restructured Medicaid, which would have hurt thousands of Georgians with disabilities across the state. Can you please explain why you voted in this way after making that commitment? Will you now committ to voting no on any legislation that will cut or cap Medicaid, a program which Georgians with disabilities rely? 
  2. Senator Isakson, in an email to constituents regarding the recent healthcare bills that imposed drastic caps to Medicaid, you pledged to "closely monitor any future Medicaid reform legislation to ensure it does not limit care for the children and families who need it most."  But what happens when these disabled children become adults?  What about adults with disabilities now and others who rely on Medicaid in order to live?  Will you now pledge to OPPOSE any legislation that will not limit access to care, including Medicaid, for children AND ADULTS across the entire life age spectrum who live with disabilities?   

For your US Representatives, you can see if they are holding a town hall at https://townhallproject.com/ 

If your US Representative is not holding a town hall or you cannot attend their town hall, you should...

2. Call and make an appointment with your Congressmen and educate them on why Medicaid matters to you. 

Georgia's US Senators are: Johnny Isakson (770-661-0999) and David Perdue (404-865-0087) 

Find your US Representative at https://www.house.gov/representatives/  and make an appointment with him/her as well.

Your message:

Continue to tell them how important Medicaid is to your life in the community. Ask your Representative and your Senators to  - (1) drop their attempts at repeal of the ACA; (2) instead work together in a bi-partisan manner using the regular & transparent legislative process, and (3) take Medicaid out of the ACA conversation and oppose any bills that would cut or cap Medicaid. 

When you are visiting them, ask them pointed questions and let them know that you hold them accountable to protect Georgians with disabilities.   Families USA has created a list of questions to use when you meet with your Congressmen at an in-person meeting. Click here to learn more. 

You also should hold them accountable for how they voted on the healthcare bill. For a list of how Georgia senators and representatives voted on the healthcare bill, go to the bottom of this email.

Sample Script:

Hi my name is <your name> and I am your constituent from <name of your town>. I am calling as a member of the disability community here in Georgia. I want to talk to you about two things. I am still very concerned about the healthcare changes being discussed in Washington DC and I want to tell you to:

(1) drop your attempts at repeal of the ACA

(2) instead work together in a bi-partisan manner using the regular & transparent legislative process

(3) take Medicaid out of the ACA conversation and oppose any bills that would cut or cap Medicaid.

Also, I am very worried about the President's Proposed Budget for 2018. I know you are actually in charge of making the budget which is why I am talking to you. President Trump wants to cut $600 billion from the Medicaid Budget, something that would drastically hurt Georgians with disabilities. This is unacceptable and would cause a lot of harm in Georgia.

Thank you. <your name>

How did your Congressmen vote on the healthcare bill:

If they voted yes on the healthcare bill, then you should let them know that you are disappointed because the legislation would have caused great harm to Georgians with disabilities like you/your family member.

If they voted no, you should thank them.

Georgia's US Senators:

Senator Johnny Isakson -Yes

Senator David Perdue - Yes

To find out who your U.S. Representative is, go here and then check out how they voted below:

Representative Buddy Carter - Yes

Representative Sanford Bishop -No

Representative Drew Ferguson -Yes

Representative Hank Johnson -No

Representative John Lewis -No

Representative Karen Handel - Was not elected yet

Representative Rob Woodall -Yes

Representative Austin Scott -Yes

Representative Doug Collins - Yes

Representative Jody Hice -Yes

Representative Barry Loudermilk -Yes

Representative Rick Allen -Yes

Representative David Scott -No

Representative Tom Graves - Yes

 For more information on how to get your voice heard, go to gcdd.org/save-medicaid.