NBC Montana | July 27, 2025
BUTTE, Mont. — About two dozen Montanans took part in a protest on Sunday against aspects of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which was supported by Montana’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke.
Caregivers and their supporters gathered across from the Butte-Silver Bow Courthouse on Sunday afternoon with a united message, that looming Medicaid cuts will cause tremendous harm.
“I see these cuts to Medicaid completely effecting my entire career, but most importantly, my clients’ entire lives. They completely rely on this funding for everything that you need to be a person,” said Butte’s Jasmine Schmidt, a care provider for people with disabilities.
The protest, organized by the group Families First and the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union, provided an outlet for people to make their voices heard as they argued these cuts will be devastating to caregivers and their clients.
“I have clients who are on medication that costs anywhere from 3 to maybe 10 thousand dollars a month for an injection. And without that injection, they can’t be out in public,” said Therese Almayah, a community resource specialist with the Program for Assertive Community Treatment team with Aware Inc. in Helena. “It not only would be devastating to them, but it could be devastating to other people around them, other community members. They need their medication, and their medication is very expensive.”
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the impending cuts could lead to 10 million more Americans becoming uninsured.
“My kids were raised on Montana Medicaid, my job relies on Medicaid, that’s one of my main parts of income is doing this job and helping these people that are on Medicaid. They are seniors, and disabled, children, elderly, and they wouldn’t have care, they wouldn’t be able to stay in their own homes,” said Bozeman home caregiver Anna Volkersz.
We reached out to Rep. office for a statement, which can be read below in its entirety.
“From protecting Montana jobs to increasing take-home pay and supporting small businesses, the One Big Beautiful Bill will deliver real results for Montana. This bill not only prevented the largest tax hike in American history but expanded tax relief for Social Security recipients, overtime earners, and tipped service industry workers. It reflects the core American promise: if you work hard, you should get what you earn. The One Big Beautiful Bill legislation keeps that promise, while also reaffirming our support for those who need it most.”