9 hours Ago By Dan Reidel
CHICO — About 250 people with signs gathered and cheered Friday in front of Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s office as people with disabilities and those who support them spoke about threats to Medicare and how cuts would affect them.The crowd was silent as Alexa Guerrero’s soft voice, amplified by a microphone, read her prepared remarks about how her life had benefited from Medicare and Medicaid funding — and how it would be worse if cuts were made.
Lindsey Wells was another of the speakers who rolled up to the microphone in front of the firehouse at 120 Independence Circle and talked about how Medicare funding made her life better by supporting her health and letting her live fully.Others held signs that said what Medicare had done for them, including one that said “My Medicaid paid for my braces.”Lindsey Wells, right, speaks to a crowd of about 250 peopleFriday, April 25, 2025 in front of Rep.
Doug LaMalfa’s office in Chico, California. (Dan Reidel/Enterprise-Record)The movement was the culmination of a week of protests by people with disabilities who gathered in front of congressional offices seeking to push their representatives not to cut Medicare funding.According to a media release from organizers, “The is the first large-scale statewide movement led by people with disabilities targeting dangerous Medicaid cuts — emphasizing the unique ways their lives would be harmed by reckless budget votes.
Friday’s Chico event concludes a full week of action across California, with rallies outside the offices of nine GOP congressional members who voted to advance the $880 billion cuts.”That $880 billion is in a House Republican budget proposal that calls for the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion from the budgets of programs it oversees over the next decade. Many critics say that can’t be done without substantial cuts to Medicare.
Teachers’ demandsA smaller group was stymied earlier Friday when about eight teachers gathered at the Richvale Republican’s office seeking to have their demands heard by their congressional representative.The teachers from the California Teachers Association said they tried to schedule a meeting with LaMalfa two weeks ago but had not heard back from his office.One of their members marched up the stairs and rang the doorbell at LaMalfa’s Suite B, but got no answer.
They are trying to get “LaMalfa to commit to protecting the Department of Education and critical federal funding that supports students with disabilities, feeds hungry children, and lowers the cost of career technical programs and higher education,” according to a news release from the CTA. “Rep. LaMalfa has introduced legislation to restore critical funds via the Rural School Funding program, which had previously expired.
Educators are eager to share their support of these vital resources and highlight how other funds for schools are also at risk. Educators will also share demands to reinstate the rule that protects students from ICE raids at school.”.
