March 2025 | Vol. 28, No. 1

The Arise Report - March 2025

This is an electronic version of the March newsletter that will be mailed to Alabama Arise members.

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Click here to check out the full online version.

Federal Medicaid, SNAP threats imperil Alabamians

Lawmakers should not hurt those who are struggling by helping people who are already doing well. But Congress is considering cuts to health coverage, food assistance and other human services that would do exactly that. These proposals would increase hunger and hardship for hundreds of thousands of Alabamians.

The U.S. House last month approved a budget resolution that could set the stage for more than $1 trillion of cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade. Congressional leaders are weighing these cuts to offset the cost of renewing huge tax breaks for wealthy people. Among those breaks are higher estate tax exemptions and a cut to the top marginal income tax rate.

The contrast is stark. The amount of potential Medicaid and SNAP cuts in the House resolution would be roughly equal to the cost of extending tax breaks for just the wealthiest 1% of households, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found.

Maternal health, paid leave are early highlights in Alabama’s 2025 legislative session

Alabama Arise is advocating successfully to advance several good bills early in the Legislature’s 2025 regular session. Our members are speaking out and getting results on maternal health care access, paid parental leave and other issues.

The session began Feb. 4 and likely will end in mid-May. This article is an overview of Arise’s advocacy on numerous issues at the State House this year, including workers’ rights and untaxing groceries.

‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’

Arise's executive director Robyn Hyden reflects on the quote from Mr. Rogers about a lesson his mother taught him.

"When I look around and see all the Arise members and allies standing together to speak out, I see the helpers," Robyn wrote. "Thank you for standing with us to help hold the line for our democracy and for an inclusive, fair and free society."

Advocating to Cover Alabama

Alabama Arise and Cover Alabama joined with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to host a Medicaid Expansion Advocacy Day on Feb. 25 in Montgomery. Nearly 100 passionate supporters came to the State House to speak out in defense of Medicaid and the urgent need to close Alabama’s health coverage gap.

As federal threats to Medicaid persist, advocates stressed that expansion is essential both to cover more people and to protect against harmful cuts. Faith leaders, business owners and individuals living in the coverage gap shared powerful personal stories. Many described the devastation of losing Medicaid coverage and falling into the gap – earning too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but too little to receive tax credits for private coverage.

These testimonies highlighted the urgent need for expansion to ensure everyone has access to care. Thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke out and made a difference. Your voices matter, and we are making progress together.

WATCH VIDEO

McKenzie Burton wants to get a cup of coffee with you

Alabama Arise’s supporters and members are used to seeing a handful of friendly faces from the staff regularly. They may see organizers speaking at listening sessions or policy analysts giving TV interviews.

But many other staff members are also integral to realizing Arise’s mission. One is someone whose name you may recognize, but not her face: McKenzie Burton, an Arise development associate since October 2021.

Read our latest Staff Spotlight to learn more about how Arise members’ dedication and determination inspire McKenzie in her own work.

Make the most of your membership

At Alabama Arise, we work to engage everyday people on policies that impact people with low incomes. Our collective voice is stronger together!

We’re in the middle of Alabama’s legislative session, which means your support is fueling our work at a critical time. Will you help us build momentum?

Congratulations, Adam!

Arise’s Adam Keller accepted a new position last month as our worker power campaign director. In this role, he will build support for worker-led union organizing unions and worker-led organizing, creating community support outside plants to sustain worker organizing inside them.

Adam still will be our organizing team contact in northeast Alabama during a brief transition period. We hope to hire and announce two new organizers soon. Visit alarise.org/employment for more on any future job opportunities.

READ THE MARCH NEWSLETTER

Alabama Arise

P.O. Box 1188, Montgomery, Alabama 36101

(334) 832-9060 · [email protected]

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