State House Republicans want you to believe their decisions this session are about helping families.

That private school vouchers are about “choice” and cuts to Medicaid are about “responsibility.” But make no mistake: What they’re doing hurts every single one of us — no matter your income, your ZIP code or where your kids go to school.

This week, Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed a bill that opens the floodgates for taxpayer-funded private school subsidies to millionaires, paid for by cutting Medicaid for the most vulnerable in our state budget. Having already deliberately reduced state revenues substantially in past years by cutting taxes for huge out-of-state corporations, they now are draining money from the public schools and other public systems we all rely on and funneling that to the wealthiest among us.

And that means the rest of us, middle-class families, working parents, seniors and anyone who pays high property taxes or increasing rent, are left holding the bag.

If you pay property taxes or are renting and your landlord has to pay higher property taxes, this hits you directly. When Republicans shovel millions into private school vouchers, they leave cities and towns to pick up more of the tab for their public schools. That means higher local taxes, higher rent and impossible choices for school districts, like closing schools, cutting special education or cramming more kids into overcrowded classrooms. Public schools are the heart of our communities, and when they’re drained of resources, everyone feels the impact — whether you have kids in them or not.

If you go to the doctor or rely on a local hospital, you’re affected. Medicaid doesn’t just cover low-income patients — it keeps rural clinics open for Medicaid and non-Medicaid patients, supports mental health services and stabilizes hospital budgets statewide. When Republicans slash Medicaid or push people off the rolls, hospitals lose funding, emergency rooms get overcrowded and we all get stuck with the bill through higher premiums, longer wait times and less access to care.

If you’re caring for aging parents, raising a child with disabilities or simply trying to stay afloat, this affects you. To bankroll private school vouchers for wealthy families, State House Republicans are hitting Medicaid recipients with new costs, premiums that amount to a Medicaid income tax on the poor. These are people already stretched to the limit, now being forced to choose between buying groceries or paying for healthcare.

The result? More untreated illness, more ER visits in crisis and more families drowning in medical debt — all so millionaires can get a taxpayer-funded tuition check. And the impacts on our health care institutions, especially in rural areas, will mean less access to health care for all of us.

A 62-year-old veteran battling cancer in Claremont depends on Medicaid for treatment. A single mom in Manchester uses it to keep her asthmatic son healthy. They’re not just stories; they’re our neighbors, co-workers, friends. When care is cut for them, it weakens the safety net for all of us.

Meanwhile, who’s getting the handouts? Millionaires.

People already sending their kids to elite private schools will now get checks from the state to help pay the tuition. Most voucher recipients were already in private school before the program existed. Now they’re getting a bonus, while public schools and healthcare services scramble to survive.

It’s the worst kind of reverse Robin Hood: taking from those with the least and giving to those with the most.

This kind of policymaking creates a ripple effect that touches everyone. When the public sphere is defunded, when services are chipped away, when tax dollars are funneled into private perks, we all feel the consequences. Our schools, our hospitals, our towns — these are shared institutions. When they’re under attack, it’s not just “someone else’s problem.” It’s all of ours.

We need to stop pretending this is about “choice” or “fiscal responsibility.” It’s about priorities. And right now, Republican lawmakers are choosing millionaires over working families, over kids with disabilities, over seniors, over you.

No matter who you are, this affects you. The only question is: Are you going to let them get away with it?

State Rep. Lucy Weber (D-Walpole) is the ranking Democrat on the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee.