Republican senator defends Trump Medicaid cuts, saying ‘we all are going to die’
Joni Ernst drew shouts and groans with her response to fears that Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ could lead to loss of health coverage
Republican US Senator Joni Ernst was met with shouts and groans when she said “we all are going to die” as she addressed potential changes to Medicaid eligibility at a town hall in north-central Iowa on Friday.
She had been consistent in her message throughout the contentious forum at a high school in Parkersburg, Iowa, as she defended the tax and immigration package that has passed the House and is now under consideration in the Senate.
Facing several constituents concerned about cuts to Medicaid, she defended the US$700 billion in reduced spending, saying it would keep immigrants in the US illegally and those who have access to insurance through their employers off the rolls.
Then someone in the crowd yelled that people will die without coverage.
“People are not … well, we all are going to die,” Ernst said, drawing groans. “So, for heaven’s sakes. For heaven’s sakes, folks.”
“What you don’t want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable,” Ernst went on. “Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid we will protect.”