Santa Clara County leaders demand state aid to soften blow from federal health care cuts

SANTA CLARA COUNTY LEADERS AND ADVOCATES are calling on state lawmakers to protect the health care system from devastating federal cuts as it finalizes its budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Latinas Contra Cancer, All Things Disability Equity, Fund Healthcare Not Billionaires, Regional Nurses Professional Association and others held a Friday rally at Valley Medical Center in San Jose, where dozens of fake tombstones dotted the lawn. Scrawled phrases such as “Died homeless” and “No prenatal care” called attention to the expected fallout if the Legislature doesn’t move to fund public hospitals and services in light of looming federal spending cuts.