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Metro Detroiters concerned over Trump's proposed budget cuts

Posted at 10:15 PM, May 23, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-23 22:15:46-04

President Trump's team has officially released its first full budget proposal. It calls for more spending on defense and border security. But also includes a lot of cuts, from education initiatives to social services.

Downriver resident, Brandy Coleman says she simply can't live without government assistance.

"If my little one didn't have Medicaid, he wouldn't be able to get his immunizations."

She, her fiancé, and her two year-old son all depend on Medicaid to make it through, but that benefit could all be in jeopardy if President Trump's new budget proposal gets the green light.

The new proposal would cut 610 billion dollars from Medicaid on top of the already
proposed Medicaid cuts under Trump's health proposal.

Food assistance programs like SNAP, offering food stamps, are also on the chopping block

"We don't stand on the corner and just hand out SNAP funding for food. The is criteria to prove that you're at a certain poverty level," says Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence.

She's on the defense against those who argue too many people are taking advantage of government food assistance programs.

Lawrence says she's concerned about the nearly 1.4 million people in the state currently relying on the program.

If the proposed budget goes through, SNAP will be cut by 190 billion dollars over the next 10 years.

But many Republicans in congress and Trump supporters argue the cuts are needed in order to restore the budget and reign in the over-spending.