SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
"Mick Mulvaney of the Office of Management and Budget is individually responsible for choosing and implementing those cuts," Barkan told Flake. "He thinks people on disability are just slackers, so what happens? What should I tell my son or what should you tell my son if you pass this bill and he cuts funding for disability and I can't get a ventilator?" (Photo: Twitter/Screengrab)
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) boarded a plane leaving Washington, D.C. on Thursday, less than a week after voting for a tax bill that could result in devastating cuts to disability programs.
Ady Barkan, a 33-year-old father living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), boarded the same flight after spending several days protesting the very legislation Flake helped ram through the Senate.
Barkan, who could be one of the millions of Americans severely harmed by the bill, wanted an explanation.
Approaching Flake on the Thursday night flight to Arizona, Barkan demanded to know how the senator who in October condemned President Donald Trump for his "flagrant disregard of truth and decency" could proceed, just weeks later, to vote for a bill that may trigger life-threatening cuts to programs that children, the elderly, and the disabled depend upon for survival.
"Mick Mulvaney of the Office of Management and Budget is individually responsible for choosing and implementing those cuts," Barkan told Flake. "He thinks people on disability are just slackers, so what happens? What should I tell my son or what should you tell my son if you pass this bill and he cuts funding for disability and I can't get a ventilator?"
ALS, Barkan explained to Flake, "has a life expectancy of three to four years, no treatment, no cure." As the condition progresses, Barkan's medical bills will soar, and he will continue to need additional assistance to stay alive. The GOP tax plan could deprive him of these necessities.
After Flake commended him for being "very up on everything," Barkan responded: "My life depends on it. For the rest of your life, you will be proud if you vote this bill down. You will be proud on your deathbed, I promise you."
"You can save my life. Please," Barkan concluded. "Please remember this conversation."
Much of Barkan's conversation with Flake was captured on video and posted on social media. Here is the 8-clip series of the interaction, in order:
\u201cPart 1 of the #flakesonaplane saga @AdyBarkan tells his story to @JeffFlake, the swing vote on the #GOPTaxScam.\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512706754
\u201cPart 2 #flakesonaplane @JeffFlake tells a skeptical @AdyBarkan that he trusts @RepPaulRyan and @SenateMajLdr to not betray the American people #GOPTaxScam\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512707470
\u201cPart 3 @AdyBarkan and @JeffFlake go head to head on the #GOPTaxScam and discuss the defecit and economic growth #flakesonaplane\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512708605
\u201cPart 4 of #flakesonaplane @JeffFlake tells @AdyBarkan how he thinks we settle the debt #GOPTaxScam\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512708215
\u201cPart 5 @JeffFlake talks #DACA and @AdyBarkan asks how he dealt with the white house and @realDonaldTrump... #flakesonaplane @_dreamersunited #GOPTaxScam\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512709041
\u201cPart 6 @JeffFlake said he will fight for these kids for the @_dreamersunited #DACA @AdyBarkan holds him to it #GOPTaxScam #FlakesOnAPlane\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512709155
\u201cPart 7 we talk #CHIP and @JeffFlake tells @AdyBarkan he doesn't think it will be part of #GOPTaxScam #FlakesOnAPlane\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512708923
\u201cGrand finale @AdyBarkan tells @JeffFlake this is his chance to be the American hero and #killthebill the #GOPTaxScam and help him live and save millions of Americans. #flakesonaplane\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512709457
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) boarded a plane leaving Washington, D.C. on Thursday, less than a week after voting for a tax bill that could result in devastating cuts to disability programs.
Ady Barkan, a 33-year-old father living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), boarded the same flight after spending several days protesting the very legislation Flake helped ram through the Senate.
Barkan, who could be one of the millions of Americans severely harmed by the bill, wanted an explanation.
Approaching Flake on the Thursday night flight to Arizona, Barkan demanded to know how the senator who in October condemned President Donald Trump for his "flagrant disregard of truth and decency" could proceed, just weeks later, to vote for a bill that may trigger life-threatening cuts to programs that children, the elderly, and the disabled depend upon for survival.
"Mick Mulvaney of the Office of Management and Budget is individually responsible for choosing and implementing those cuts," Barkan told Flake. "He thinks people on disability are just slackers, so what happens? What should I tell my son or what should you tell my son if you pass this bill and he cuts funding for disability and I can't get a ventilator?"
ALS, Barkan explained to Flake, "has a life expectancy of three to four years, no treatment, no cure." As the condition progresses, Barkan's medical bills will soar, and he will continue to need additional assistance to stay alive. The GOP tax plan could deprive him of these necessities.
After Flake commended him for being "very up on everything," Barkan responded: "My life depends on it. For the rest of your life, you will be proud if you vote this bill down. You will be proud on your deathbed, I promise you."
"You can save my life. Please," Barkan concluded. "Please remember this conversation."
Much of Barkan's conversation with Flake was captured on video and posted on social media. Here is the 8-clip series of the interaction, in order:
\u201cPart 1 of the #flakesonaplane saga @AdyBarkan tells his story to @JeffFlake, the swing vote on the #GOPTaxScam.\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512706754
\u201cPart 2 #flakesonaplane @JeffFlake tells a skeptical @AdyBarkan that he trusts @RepPaulRyan and @SenateMajLdr to not betray the American people #GOPTaxScam\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512707470
\u201cPart 3 @AdyBarkan and @JeffFlake go head to head on the #GOPTaxScam and discuss the defecit and economic growth #flakesonaplane\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512708605
\u201cPart 4 of #flakesonaplane @JeffFlake tells @AdyBarkan how he thinks we settle the debt #GOPTaxScam\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512708215
\u201cPart 5 @JeffFlake talks #DACA and @AdyBarkan asks how he dealt with the white house and @realDonaldTrump... #flakesonaplane @_dreamersunited #GOPTaxScam\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512709041
\u201cPart 6 @JeffFlake said he will fight for these kids for the @_dreamersunited #DACA @AdyBarkan holds him to it #GOPTaxScam #FlakesOnAPlane\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512709155
\u201cPart 7 we talk #CHIP and @JeffFlake tells @AdyBarkan he doesn't think it will be part of #GOPTaxScam #FlakesOnAPlane\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512708923
\u201cGrand finale @AdyBarkan tells @JeffFlake this is his chance to be the American hero and #killthebill the #GOPTaxScam and help him live and save millions of Americans. #flakesonaplane\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512709457
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) boarded a plane leaving Washington, D.C. on Thursday, less than a week after voting for a tax bill that could result in devastating cuts to disability programs.
Ady Barkan, a 33-year-old father living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), boarded the same flight after spending several days protesting the very legislation Flake helped ram through the Senate.
Barkan, who could be one of the millions of Americans severely harmed by the bill, wanted an explanation.
Approaching Flake on the Thursday night flight to Arizona, Barkan demanded to know how the senator who in October condemned President Donald Trump for his "flagrant disregard of truth and decency" could proceed, just weeks later, to vote for a bill that may trigger life-threatening cuts to programs that children, the elderly, and the disabled depend upon for survival.
"Mick Mulvaney of the Office of Management and Budget is individually responsible for choosing and implementing those cuts," Barkan told Flake. "He thinks people on disability are just slackers, so what happens? What should I tell my son or what should you tell my son if you pass this bill and he cuts funding for disability and I can't get a ventilator?"
ALS, Barkan explained to Flake, "has a life expectancy of three to four years, no treatment, no cure." As the condition progresses, Barkan's medical bills will soar, and he will continue to need additional assistance to stay alive. The GOP tax plan could deprive him of these necessities.
After Flake commended him for being "very up on everything," Barkan responded: "My life depends on it. For the rest of your life, you will be proud if you vote this bill down. You will be proud on your deathbed, I promise you."
"You can save my life. Please," Barkan concluded. "Please remember this conversation."
Much of Barkan's conversation with Flake was captured on video and posted on social media. Here is the 8-clip series of the interaction, in order:
\u201cPart 1 of the #flakesonaplane saga @AdyBarkan tells his story to @JeffFlake, the swing vote on the #GOPTaxScam.\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512706754
\u201cPart 2 #flakesonaplane @JeffFlake tells a skeptical @AdyBarkan that he trusts @RepPaulRyan and @SenateMajLdr to not betray the American people #GOPTaxScam\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512707470
\u201cPart 3 @AdyBarkan and @JeffFlake go head to head on the #GOPTaxScam and discuss the defecit and economic growth #flakesonaplane\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512708605
\u201cPart 4 of #flakesonaplane @JeffFlake tells @AdyBarkan how he thinks we settle the debt #GOPTaxScam\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512708215
\u201cPart 5 @JeffFlake talks #DACA and @AdyBarkan asks how he dealt with the white house and @realDonaldTrump... #flakesonaplane @_dreamersunited #GOPTaxScam\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512709041
\u201cPart 6 @JeffFlake said he will fight for these kids for the @_dreamersunited #DACA @AdyBarkan holds him to it #GOPTaxScam #FlakesOnAPlane\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512709155
\u201cPart 7 we talk #CHIP and @JeffFlake tells @AdyBarkan he doesn't think it will be part of #GOPTaxScam #FlakesOnAPlane\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512708923
\u201cGrand finale @AdyBarkan tells @JeffFlake this is his chance to be the American hero and #killthebill the #GOPTaxScam and help him live and save millions of Americans. #flakesonaplane\u201d— Liz J. (@Liz J.) 1512709457