Trump Visit Highlights GOP Favoritism for Elite Over Working Families

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. –  Instead of using his visit to meet with average South Dakotans to hear their concerns, President Donald Trump is instead attending a high-dollar fundraiser on behalf of Rep. Kristi Noem. The SDDP released the following statement from Executive Director Sam Parkinson responding to the President’s visit:

“The fact that President Trump is using his time in South Dakota to raise money from wealthy donors at an event very few South Dakotans can afford, instead of meeting with working families to hear their concerns about tariffs, healthcare, and government corruption is incredibly revealing about his – and the Republican Party’s – priorities. While President Trump’s time in office has been great for the wealthy donors attending this fundraiser, it has been a disaster for middle-class South Dakotans. While the Republican Party continues to cater to the interests of those at the top, at the expense of everyone else, Democrats will continue working for an economy that works for all South Dakotans.”

Here’s a look at some of the ways Trump/Republican policies are hurting South Dakotans:

• Trump’s reckless trade wars could impact $129 million of South Dakota exports.
• One out of every four rows of soybeans grown in South Dakota currently goes to China. Trump’s trade war with China has already cost South Dakota farmers and ranchers hundreds of millions of dollars, and our producers could end up losing their market share in China permanently.
• Trump’s constant efforts to undermine and repeal the Affordable Care Act could cause over 27,000 South Dakotans to lose their health insurance.
• Trump’s FY19 Budget would cut medicaid spending by about $250 billion over a decade, which would have a devastating impact on the nearly 150,000 South Dakotans who depend on Medicaid – including half of all infants in their first year of life.
• Trump’s FY19 Budget also took aim at seniors with a $554 billion cut to Medicare, higher prescription drug costs for millions of seniors, and reduced payments to home-health and nursing homes.