In gloomy financial times when unemployment remains high in nearly every state, decisions that would lead to additional job losses make little sense.
So why is the supercommittee considering massive cuts to healthcare funding that could cost millions of jobs and further devastate our economy?
Some of the 12 members of Congress from the House and Senate who have been newly empowered to decide on a deficit reduction plan hail from states with the highest number of healthcare jobs.
View enlarged chart. Data obtained from the respective states' Department of Labor reports.
Medicare and Medicaid not only provide life-saving care to more than 100 million people in these programs, they also generate millions of good jobs, none of which can be shipped overseas. According to a projection by the Bureau of Labor Statistic, the healthcare industry could create as many as 3.2 million new jobs by 2018 -- which is more than any other industry.
The healthcare sector is one of America's most robust jobs engines -- every $1 million spent on federal Medicaid funding results in the creation of 17.1 new jobs.
Yet in the face of these truths, some elected officials would rather deny needed healthcare and services to seniors, people with disabilities and the poor than raise taxes on people who can comfortably afford to pay more.
As the supercommittee continues its negotiations, let's make it clear that members of Congress who decide to make cuts are deciding to increase unemployment and diminish healthcare delivery in their communities. We must speak out to members of the deficit committee not to agree to a plan that puts Medicare, Medicaid and jobs on the chopping block.
Spread the word that every member of Congress should be focused on protecting and creating jobs -- not making cuts to Medicaid: http://action.seiu.org/no-medicaid-cuts
