FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2025
Contact: Kirstin Snow, snow@pennpolicy.org
“Stop the Billionaire Tax Giveaway” National Bus Tour Stops in Pittsburgh
Fair Share America + Pennsylvanians Together to bring the 14-State National Campaign to PA to Highlight the Harmful Impacts of the GOP’s Federal Budget + Tax Bill
Pittsburgh, PA – On Tuesday, June 24th, Fair Share America, Pennsylvanians Together and Unrig our Economy brought the “Stop the Billionaire Tax Giveaway” national bus tour to Pittsburgh’s Schenley Plaza to highlight the devastating impact of the GOP’s budget and tax proposal on the Keystone State’s families, communities and economy.
The 45-foot tour bus, wrapped in a giant trillion-dollar bill, makes 6 total stops in Pennsylvania to send a clear message to elected officials: working families should not have to pay the price so billionaires and big corporations can get more tax breaks. At each stop, local voices call on US senators and members of Congress to reject any budget bill that cuts Medicaid and SNAP in order to fund over $1 trillion in tax breaks for the wealthy.
SPEAKERS:
- Kristin Crowell, Executive Director, Fair Share America
- Marc Stier, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Policy Center
- Katherine Taylor, Just Harvest
- Miracle Jones, 1Hood
- Shana Coleman, LPN, Allegheny Valley Hospital, SEIU HCPA
- Erica Payne, Home Care Worker, SEIU HCPA
- Ashley Comans, MomsRising
- Bethany Hallam, City Council Member
- Dwayne Heisler, Campaign Director, Pennsylvanians Together
QUOTES:
“Pennsylvania’s families and businesses are fed up with Washington putting billionaires ahead of their basic needs and the public good,” said Fair Share America Executive Director Kristen Crowell. “This tour is about showing up, speaking out, and giving people the tools to fight back for common sense and tax fairness. We’re stopping in here because folks here will be hit hard—and your Federal elected officials have the chance to stop the harm by putting families over billionaires.”
Miracle Jones: “It has become clear our democracy has come under attack by billionaires who are trying to usurp the rule of the people and stop policies that make our communities livable and accessible for all of us. Cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other vital programs in order to support tax cuts for billionaires is unacceptable and we the people are speaking out to say no more. We demand our elected officials put people over the profit and demand investments in our communities not cuts to our care.”
Shana Coleman: “The proposed cuts would be a huge financial hit for our hospital because over $8 million of our funding comes from Medicaid,” said Shana Coleman, a licensed practical nurse at Allegheny Valley Hospital. “All other hospitals in Allegheny County would face the same struggles – about 17% of their revenue comes from Medicaid. Cuts could cause a shortage of hospital beds, longer wait times for care, fewer services and layoffs. I’m not only advocating for my patients, but also my husband, who has stage three cancer and relies on Medicaid as his secondary insurance. We’re sending a loud message to Senator McCormick and Republican congressmembers: No Medicaid cuts for tax giveaways to billionaires!”
Erica Payne: “Medicaid empowers my home care client, a woman who has disabilities, with the dignity and freedom to live in her own home,” said Erica Payne, a home care worker in Pittsburgh. “So when Senator Dave McCormick and Republican congressmembers attack Medicaid, they are directly attacking the dignity and freedom of my client, as well as seniors and people with disabilities across our Commonwealth.”
Katherine Taylor: “The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the most effective anti-hunger program in the country – and right now, it is under attack. During a time when food costs are on the rise, tax breaks for the wealthy are being prioritized over the well-being of the American public. We must protect this critical program that helps struggling families keep food on the table.”
“Pennsylvania families are already working hard to get by—and now Washington wants to make it harder by gutting Medicaid and food assistance to protect tax breaks for billionaires,” said Marc Stier, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Policy Center. “These cuts would hit our communities directly raising costs, increasing hardship, and pushing more pressure onto our schools, hospitals, and local budgets. We’re standing up in Pennsylvania to say: enough is enough. Our elected officials need to reject this plan and stand with the people they’re supposed to serve.”
Dwayne Heisler: “As Campaign Director for Pennsylvanians Together, I’m proud to support the Fair Share America Bus Tour as it rolls into communities across Pennsylvania. At every stop, we’re calling out the cruel tradeoff behind the Big Ugly Bill—slashing Medicaid and SNAP to hand even more tax breaks to billionaires. This tour is about standing up for everyday Pennsylvanians and demanding that we fund healthcare and put food on the table, not pad the pockets of the ultra-wealthy.”
Learn more about the Stop the Billionaire Giveaway Bus Tour at bus.fairshareusa.org.
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