Rev. David McDowell, who is the pastor at Fondren Presbyterian Church in Jackson, led more than a dozen demonstrators in prayer before delivering a letter to Senator Hyde-Smith’s office urging her to repeal the bill.
“God of all good things. We are here together in your name to hold up a mirror to our elected officials. You are the one who knows what big and beautiful truly means,” he said.
McDowell punctuated his prayer with the amount of Mississippians he believes will be impacted by the spending bills new work requirements.
“For the 34,000 who will lose Medicaid, the 101,000 will lose SNAP, and the millions of Mississippians who will feel those ripple effects, we ask that you intervene in ways we cannot even imagine,” he said.
According to KFF, nearly 25% of Mississippi’s population under 65 is enrolled in Medicaid. At least 14% of Mississippians were enrolled in SNAP in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But not everyone believes enrollees will be harmed by the spending bill.
In a statement to MPB News, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith said there are falsehoods being spread about what she calls “historic legislation.” She says the spending bill could save the average Mississippian $1500 a year in taxes.
“The legislation also enhances safety by funding the border wall and hiring additional ICE and Customs and Border Patrol Agents. I fought successfully for money for rural hospitals and for healthcare workers. Regarding SNAP, eligible Mississippians will continue to benefit from this program, even with the work requirement for able-bodied adults which is intended to strengthen the program.”
Hyde-Smith says Mississippi’s families and businesses can expect lower costs related to energy policies found in the bill.
“This legislation saves taxpayers’ hard-earned money, increases safety, and promotes energy independence. It’s good for the country and good for Mississippi,” the statement said.
Still, McDowell called the spending bill a “moral document.”
“We are calling for the repeal and reverse of the budget provisions that criminalize poverty, including the work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP,” he said. “We are calling to restore the child credit, tax credit for all families, regardless of immigration status. We call to repeal harmful anti-immigrant restrictions that strip rights from refugees and asylum seekers. We call for the cancelation of funding for expanded detention centers, family separation, and militarized border walls.”
Clinton based demonstrator, Jackie Wright, says she wanted to attend the gathering because it was faith-based.
“I mean, you just can't get any plainer than what the Bible says to us,” she said. “I know the Bible's not black and white. I know there's stories in there. I know it's beautiful, but there's also just good advice. And the good advice is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. And I just can get past that.”
Wright says she believes the spending bill is cutting necessary benefits.
“I just think the facts are the facts. It's cutting care,” she said. “I know people are going to say, well, I've worked hard for what I have and these people should have to work hard. But that just doesn't make sense. I mean, there are people that are trying. We know in Mississippi the wages are not high enough for people to even exist,” she said.
Also speaking at the demonstration was Rev. Charlton Johnson, who is the vice president of Together for Hope. He argues the bill stands to benefit only a wealthy few.
“We declare in so many circles as people of faith that we are pro-life, but this bill is trying to hinder life and take life from especially those who are poor and marginalized,” he said. “So I stand here to lend my voice, to lend my presence. To echo the very sentiment that is in scriptures, because I'm a Christian that believes in Matthew 25, that says that when you've done it unto the least of these, you've done it unto me.”
The faith leaders also delivered a letter to the staff of Senator Roger Wicker’s office.
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