Alaska member makes long journey to tell lawmakers to protect lifesaving services

Billy Stapleton made a 4,000-plus mile journey from Anchorage, Alaska, to send a message in person to lawmakers in Washington, D.C.  

“We cannot afford to cut SNAP and Medicaid just to give tax breaks to billionaires,” he said. 

Stapleton is a member of Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA)/AFSCME Local 52 and an eligibility technician for Alaska’s Division of Public Assistance. He painted a frightening picture of what would happen to working families in his state if a House-backed budget bill becomes law. 

“A lot of people out in rural communities can only transfer from village to village by airplane,” Stapleton said during his visit last week. “If they need medical assistance, they must catch an airplane, which is very expensive.” 

Medicaid helps to pay for these services that are unique to Alaskans. Stapleton said 43% of senior citizens in Alaska rely on Medicaid or Medicare, while 13% of children rely on Medicaid.  

The extreme cuts in the so-called big, beautiful bill — which the Senate is now considering — will not only harm Alaskans who depend on Medicaid. It would mean Alaskans would lose nutrition assistance they get through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

“In Anchorage alone, they have 32,000 students who get free school lunches because their family can’t afford the cost of food,” Stapleton said.  

He joined other AFSCME members who mobilized through our Get Organized campaign to tell lawmakers that the choice is clear: stand up for working families, not billionaires. Vote “no” on this budget bill. Protect the services working families rely on. 

If you want to take part in the movement, text GO to 237263. Join the fight and Get Organized.