AFSCME Florida Retirees vow to hold Congresswoman Luna accountable

LARGO, Fla. – AFSCME retirees from Florida’s 13th Congressional District vowed on Friday to hold Rep. Anna Paulina Luna accountable for voting for the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”  

To pay for tax cuts for billionaires, the law will make massive cuts to Medicaid. That will cause more than 13 million people nationwide to lose health care insurance over the next decade. The law will also make cuts to Medicare, food assistance and other essential programs. Most of the people affected will be lower-income families, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. 

AFSCME research shows that in Florida, more than 1.4 million people will lose health care insurance and 423,000 their critical food benefits. 

Members of Florida AFSCME Retiree Chapter 79 joined local educational leaders in central Florida to call out Luna. Speakers brought a fake check made out to Elon Musk and his billionaire friends to represent the tax cuts they are getting at the expense of our public services. 

“Shame on Congresswoman Luna for not showing the leadership to fix a budget bill that requires massive cuts to Medicaid, food assistance and other essential programs,” said Peggy Goodale, a former Florida state worker and a member of Florida AFSCME Retiree Chapter 79. “Congresswoman Luna is hoping we will move on and forget by the time next November comes. But … we will remember this when we go vote.” 

Speakers talked about their experiences delivering the services that will be cut by the budget law.  

Barbara Giorgio, a former Florida state worker who helped administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is also a member of Florida AFSCME Retiree Chapter 79. She said the law’s effects will be devastating to our communities’ most vulnerable residents. 

“We know that when someone goes hungry it is hard for them to be able to hold down a job, let alone keep a roof over their head or afford their other bills,” Giorgio said. “And when it comes to children, it is heartbreaking to think of kids sitting in class, wanting to learn but unable to concentrate because they haven’t had anything to eat.”  

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