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Donald Trump’s repeated falsehood throughout the 2024 campaign that the federal government is being unfairly ‘weaponized’ against him is now providing his administration rhetorical license in the eyes of his supporters to actually use his position to attack, not only his political enemies, but vital programs and services on which the state of Missouri depends.
One form of Trump’s new “weapon” is the newly-created, yet completely illegitimate “Department of Government Efficiency,” nominally spearheaded by Twitter(X)-owner and billionaire oligarch Elon Musk.
“You might be asking why I can confidently describe Musk as an ‘oligarch,’” said state Rep. Adrian Plank, D-Columbia. “If it walks like an oligarch, talks like an oligarch and has extreme amounts of unchecked political power and influence over our government due to their vast amounts of wealth like an oligarch, it’s probably an oligarch.”
Plank is calling for Missouri’s Congressional delegation to fight back against the unchecked billionaire class on behalf of their state. This includes U.S. Sens. Eric Schmitt and Josh Hawley, as well as U.S. Reps. Mark Alford, Eric Burlison, Robert Onder, Ann Wagner, Sam Graves, Jason Smith, Wesley Bell and Emanuel Cleaver.
Just as he was so eager to do under the previous administration, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey was also called on by Plank to shield Missouri from abuses of our federal government and preserve the programs and funding that uplift our people.
“We cannot count on Washington, D.C., as a reliable federal partner anymore,” Plank said. “Meaning, it’s that much more important for Missouri leaders to govern in a way that’s responsible, transparent and prudent.”
Among a litany of federal programs the Trump administration will see slashed is Medicaid.
Medicaid and CHIP provide health and long-term care coverage to 80 million low-income children, pregnant women, adults, seniors and people with disabilities across the U.S. as of May 2024.
In total, enrollment in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program was 1.3 million in June 2024. $15.9 billion was spent on Missouri Medicaid in 2022, with the federal government shouldering 78.5% of those costs.
“I’m terrified for the people of the Show-Me State, because so many people rely on programs like Medicaid and may not even realize it’s under threat until it’s too late,” Plank said.
Plank represents parts of Columbia and Boone County.
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