It has been one year since Donald Trump and the Republicans passed their Big Billionaires First Act, which took money from vital services like food and health assistance and redistributed it to give unneeded tax cuts to the rich.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly issued a press release to condemn this measure and call attention to the negative impact it has had on Working and Middle Class Arizonans.
In his statement, Senator Kelly said:
“One year ago, Washington made a choice. Instead of lowering costs for working families, President Trump and Congressional Republicans prioritized a tax break for the wealthiest Americans. Today, Arizona families are living with the consequences as they lose access to health care, food assistance, and good-paying jobs. The promise of this country is that, if you work hard, you should be able to build a good life for your family. I’ll keep fighting to uphold that promise for every Arizonan.”
In numbers released by his press office, Arizonans have suffered in reduced heath care and food assistance by:
Health care
- In Arizona, nearly 2 million people rely on AHCCCS—Arizona’s Medicaid program—or health coverage, roughly 1 in 4 Arizonans.
- Arizona projects losing $34 billion in federal Medicaid dollars through 2034.
- More than 100,000 fewer Arizonans are enrolled in ACA plans in 2026 compared to 2025.
- Health insurance premiums increased 25%; the cost of silver plans in Arizona increased 29% in 2026.
Food assistance (SNAP)
- Between July 2025 and April 2026, Arizona’s SNAP caseload declined by approximately 48%.
- St. Mary’s Food Bank has seen a 15% increase in demand.
- In April, the Flagstaff Family Food Center saw a 27.7% increase in meal and grocery participation compared to April 2025.
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