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Resident presses county legislators on Medicaid and SNAP cuts; Republican lawmaker defends changes
Summary
John Jablonski told the legislature July 23 that recent federal or state policy changes cutting Medicaid and SNAP harm local elder care and hospitals. Legislator Niebel responded during the meeting, saying the cuts target waste, fraud and abuse and will not kill deserving individuals, per his remarks.
John Jablonski of Lakewood used the second privilege of the floor on July 23 to ask Chautauqua County legislators what they are doing to "save the lives of our affected residents and save our hospitals and save our nursing homes and elder care systems" in light of what he described as "extreme Medicaid cuts" and reductions to SNAP benefits.
Jablonski said county residents and institutions were already strained before the changes and asked county officials and the county executive to act. The chairman interrupted to remind Jablonski that the county executive was not present and that public comment should be addressed to the legislature.
Later in the meeting, Legislator Niebel responded to Jablonski's remarks, saying the Medicaid changes were focused on addressing "waste, fraud, and abuse," and that "deserving individuals will not be affected and certainly no one will die," per his statement.
Why it matters: Medicaid and SNAP changes can affect vulnerable residents, hospitals and long-term-care providers. Public commenters urged local leaders to take action; at least one legislator publicly defended the policy change as targeting program integrity.
Legislative context: The transcript records the public comment and a brief legislative response; no formal motion or county action was recorded in direct response during the meeting.
The exchange highlights local concern about federal or state policy impacts on county health and social services and a partisan divide in framing the policy's effects.
