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Kay Hendrikson
April 2025 |
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Hi All,
We have been very busy. We’ve been going to rallies and writing our legislators. We have been making some noise! — But that might not be enough.
72 million Americans rely on Medicaid, including 8 million seniors and countless people with disabilities. Yet, Republicans are proposing $900 billion in cuts, threatening the care that keeps families healthy and independent. A home care worker shared: “I had to choose between rent and chemotherapy. Medicaid saved my life.”
Damaging Social Security, Medicaid, and/or Veterans’ Health Benefits means people are forced to make impossible choices. Attacks on Social Security, Medicaid and Veteran’s Administration is wrong.
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Don’t forget to check your Social Security check/deposit regularly. If there is a problem, immediately call Social Security — 1
(800) 772-1213 — then call your federal legislator, then file a complaint with the MN Attorney General’s Office
(https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Forms/ConsumerAssistanceRequest.asp)
For a printable copy of Kay’s message and details about the rally and call to action, click here.
Be safe, have fun, be healthy!
Always yours,
Kay C Hendrikson, PhD
Chair, DFL Senior Caucs
“The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody is free.”
Maya Angelou, American memoirist, popular poet, and civil rights activist
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CALL TO ACTION!!
Issues the Senior Caucus is concerned about:
Attacks on Social Security, Medicaid and Veteran’s Administration
Funding cuts in MN will affect county, state and local services including:
- Disappearance of rural hospitals, rural health care
- Age-Friendly provision not in current budget proposal
I’m asking you as individuals and as Chapters to “make some noise.” We have enough members to make a difference. If each Senior Caucus member called, emailed, and/or postal mailed to our representatives once or twice a week or even once or twice a month, this is thousands of contacts per month just from Senior Caucus members. This will make an impact.
Last month, I reminded us all of the poem “First they came for…” I want to repeat it again here:
- First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
- Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
- Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
- Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemöller
If all 1000 Senior Caucus members write them once or twice a week or a month, they will get the message. This is why we are a state wide team – to make a difference!!
https://www.house.gov/representatives#state-minnesota
Find your local legislators here: https://ballotpedia.org/Minnesota
For lots of election information: https://www.sos.state.mn.us/
Amy Klobuchar: https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-amy
Tina Smith: https://www.smith.senate.gov/share-your-opinion/
Betty McCollum: https://mccollum.house.gov/contact/email
Angie Craig: Eagan, MN Office, 1915 Plaza Dr, Suite 202, Eagan, MN 55122, (651) 846-2120
Federal issues:
- Elimination of Medicare reimbursement for telehealth
- Effect of cuts – Older Americans Act, Medicaid expansion, DEI and LGBTQ protections
- Possible elimination of Dept of Education, USAID, WHO membership
- Elimination of funding for medical research at NIH, including research to cure Alzheimer’s disease
Minnesota issues:
- Disappearance of rural hospitals, rural health care
- Age-Friendly provision not in current budget proposal
- Legacy bill, giving priority to seniors for services
- Housing bill, providing support services for seniors staying in homes
Sample letter to representative
Dear Representative/Senator <Name>,
I am your constituent in <City>. I am writing to express my concerns about <issue; include bill number if relevant>. I am concerned that <negative outcome>. {repeat for additional outcomes but keep it brief – no more than 3}.
<Describe relevant expertise you have on the issue and/or the personal impact of the issue.>
<Describe support you’ve provided: voting, donating, campaign volunteer>
I understand that being in the minority right now, Democrats are limited in our ability to block these disastrous appointments/changes. I want you to know that I am a loyal voter and strongly support any efforts you make to prevent the dismantling of services that are critical to Minnesota and the country.
<Your signature and your contact information>