Demand congressman protect Medicaid, Social Security, represent constituents
NORTHFIELD — An estimated 600 people lined Tilton Road outside the office of U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew on March 13, calling for the congressman to support the people of southern New Jersey.
Van Drew voted to support a bill approved Feb. 25 that calls for a minimum of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts and as much as $4.5 trillion worth of new tax cuts over the next decade. The bill does not specify what programs to cut, but analyses have pointed out to reach that level of cuts, reductions in big-ticket programs including Medicaid would have to be included.
The congressman has pledged not to cut health programs.
“As much as I wanted to see a different budget resolution, I ultimately voted for it because it is essential to move the budget process forward so real negotiations can begin,” Van Drew, R-2nd, said in a statement. “Americans made it clear they want a better budget — one that reins in spending while protecting the services families rely on. Let me be clear: I will not cut Medicare, Social Security or Medicaid. As we head into the next phase, I will fight like hell to ensure we safeguard these critical programs while also addressing our deficit, ensuring President Trump’s agenda can be funded and cutting wasteful spending.”
More than 1.9 million people are enrolled in Medicaid in New Jersey, 1.7 million receive Social Security benefits and almost 1.3 million are enrolled in Medicare.
A flier from Constituents of CD-2 urged participants to “write up your concerns and complaints to deliver in person.”
However, when they arrived the doors were locked and the entire building was closed.
Helen Duda, who helped organize the event for Constituents of CD-2, called the group a partnership of multiple smaller groups coming together for a common cause.
“We have all kind of connected and are very unhappy with him,” she said of Van Drew. “People here are hurting and what’s happening right now is really serious.”
Duda said Van Drew is not representing his constituents.
“He’s doing the people here such a disservice, that’s what really upsets me. We have some of the poorest towns and counties in the state. There is so much good he could be doing,” she said, adding that Van Drew has refused to meet with group representatives.
“He won’t talk to us, he won’t meet with us. He’s on some little high horse thinking that he is someone important now because Trump is paying attention to him,” Duda said.
Blowing whistles, ringing bells and chanting, protesters carried signs reading “Van Drew is a traitor to South Jersey,” “No cuts to Medicaid,” “Stop kissing the ring,” “No one voted for Musk” and “Support South Jersey (not Trump) first.”
A group spelled out “Liar Van Drew” in individual letters.
“It shows that people are angry, they want to do something. People are so frustrated and they’re reading the news every day and they feel like so much is thrown at them and they are feeling helpless,” Duda said. “This is something people can do to feel like they are part of something and that they are doing something.”
She said she fears a lot of people are just giving up
“I tell them they cannot give up,” Duda said. “You can’t just give up, you have to do what you can. Even if it’s just coming out here, going to his office, whatever you can do. Speak out, speak up and let him know we are not just going to crumble. We’re going to be here and we are going to be making noise.”
Assembly candidate Carolyn Rush held a sign that read “Act like a representative not a Trump puppet,” complete with a picture of Trump holding Van Drew’s strings.
“I think the turnout is fantastic. It’s just a shame we don’t have one more here — Jeff Van Drew,” Rush said. “We need a representative. We need somebody who is going to represent us, and we don’t have that right now. I am very frustrated that he signed onto the continuing resolution that is going to destroy the budget.”
Other signs read “Stop tax cuts for the rich,” “New Jersey knows no king” and “Van Drew is part of the coup.”
Northfield’s Kim Campbell and Mike Friehoffer felt the need to protest. They carried sings that read “The power of the people is stronger than the people in power” and “Be on the right side of history.”
“I just can’t take any more of the nonsense; it’s unbearable,” Friehoffer said.
“We demand better,” Campbell added.
“It’s such a disgrace what’s happening in the White House with this administration and what we’re doing on the world stage and the example we’re setting for what’s supposed to be a free country. Where do you start? The whole thing is terrible, just terrible,” Friehoffer said.
He said Trump is “a despicable human being, he has surrounded himself with despicable human beings. This is not who we are as a country. We can be divided. We can have differences of opinion but the way that whole thing is going there isn’t going to be room for any dissension, and that is not what this country was founded upon.”
Asked what brought her out to the protest, Shoshana Osofsky of Cumberland County, wearing a Trump mask with a Pinocchio nose, asked, “How could I stay home? Where to begin?”
She said she has concerns about cuts to Medicaid and the Department of Education.
Lisa Bender, a member of the Somers Point Democratic Club, said she was there to protest Van Drew’s inaction.
“He is not standing up for what we want and he is not protecting our friends and neighbors that work in the federal government. He is not supporting Medicaid, he is not supporting our seniors, our veterans. He should be standing up to these people who are taking over our government in such a slash and burn way,” she said.
Susan Ferrier of Galloway Township, wearing a pink pussy hat and carrying a sign that read “Oligarchies suck for 99 percent of the people,” said she came out on a cold day “to defend democracy, baby!”
“I think people need to become aware of what’s going on. None of this bodes well for any of us. I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on, this is not going to go well for any of us,” Ferrier said.
Northfield Police Chief Mark VonColln said the officers were concerned with the safety of protesters and keeping them from blocking busy Tilton Road.
“We are here for them as well and trying to create the safest environment that we can,” he said. “They have the right to be here — we relish that — we just hope it’s a safe and peaceful protest.”
