A Harrisonburg dentist will join U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., at tonight’s State of the Union address by President Donald Trump at 9 p.m.
Dr. Cameron Roberts, DDS, was selected in part to spotlight recent cuts by Republicans in Congress to Medicaid and the effects on both providers and patients.
Three rural clinics in the Shenandoah Valley have already closed with the legislation cited as one of the key reasons for the decision.
Kaine said that Roberts’ presence will “shine a light on the fear and uncertainty providers and patients are embroiled in because of a bill that was passed last year that dramatically cut Medicaid funding.”
Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, joined all Democratic lawmakers in voting to oppose the 2025 reconciliation bill. An analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that the impact of the bill could result in 300,000 Virginians losing their health insurance which would put more of a financial burden on hospitals and medical providers.
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“No patient should have to worry about whether they can afford a needed visit to the dentist or the doctor, nor should providers be left wondering whether they’re going to be able to continue providing services to their communities,” Kaine said.
“We must continue to do all that we can to call attention to the disastrous impacts of these cuts and keep pushing to reverse them so that millions of Americans can get the care they need.”
Roberts is a board member and dental director of the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic.
“I am honored to be here with Senator Kaine to bring more awareness to the challenges free and charitable clinics are facing across the nation at this time,” said Roberts.
Trump likely to continue to push falsehoods on economy, immigrants
In the address, Trump will likely continue to push falsehoods about the economy: he continues to claim the the U.S. is the “hottest country anywhere in the world.”
Seriously, who says that? No one else.
He has also said that the affordability crisis is a Democratic hoax, but for most Americans, costs of housing, groceries and childcare continue to rise. While the stock market has seen some gains, the average household has not seen the economic turnaround the president promised to address on day one of his presidency.
Trump will also likely claim success in rounding up illegal immigrants who he asserts are “the worst of the worst.” However, immigration enforcement has targeted anyone with black or brown skin, regardless of their criminal histories.
One thing that probably won’t be addressed: the Jeffrey Epstein coverup. The administration has continued to say that it is ready to “move on.” Recent polling found that public interest is strong and only 21 percent of Americans agree with the president on that assessment. Instead, nearly 70 percent of Americans want accountability for the actions of everyone that is implicated in the files. Some Democratic lawmakers have invited Epstein survivors to the SOTU address.
Despite Trump taking victory laps on his presidency, recent polls found that a majority of Americans are losing faith in the president, with only 39 percent of Americans still supporting him. While many senior citizens are standing by their vote, his support among the younger population has greatly declined.
Last year, some Democrats showed resistance to the president with signs and disruptions during his speech. This year, some Congressional Democrats have said they will simply not attend the address.
A State of the Swamp rebuttal to the SOTU address will stream live from Washington starting at 7 p.m. The event features many of the president’s strongest critics: Robert De Niro, Stacey Abrams, Jim Acosta, Don Lemon, Tom Arnold, George Conway, Lisandra Vazquez and more.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will deliver the official Democratic response to the SOTU.
The Guardian has a team dedicated to fact-checking Trump’s speech live.
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Crystal Graham
