The American people are standing up in defiance…
“No cuts to Medicaid! No cuts to Medicaid!” the protesters yelled as they entered the chamber hosting a House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair hearing.
The Republican bill in question would gut Medicaid funding as part of the MAGA plan to slash $880 billion in federal funding over the next ten years. That, in turn, would pave the way for more tax cuts for corporations and the super wealthy.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would cause roughly 13.7 million people to lose their health coverage.
“The chair will advise the audience that disruption of congressional business is a violation of law and is a criminal offense,” said Committee Chair Brett Guthrie, a Republican, as the protestors chanted.
“The chair advises the audience that violations will not be tolerated and the violators will be removed from the room and may be subject to arrest,” he threatened.
Capitol Police eventually intervened and wheeled disabled protesters out of the room, creating a PR nightmare for Republicans.
Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone attempted to intervene and beseeched the police officers not to arrest the protestors.
“These demonstrations are people feel very strongly because they know they’re losing their health care and the cruelty that comes from the Republican proposal that makes them lose their health care and their health insurance,” he said.
“But I would just ask that to the police, I don’t know if they’re in the room, that we not arrest people if possible because many of them are disabled, and I don’t want to see them further hurt with their disability in the process of being arrested,” he continued, demonstrating the compassion that so many Republicans seem pathologically incapable of mustering.
“President Trump and congressional Republicans promised the American people they would not cut Medicaid benefits or strip away people’s health care,” added Pallone. “It’s clear that they have broken that promise.”
The American people are making their voice heard loud and clear: Absolutely no cuts to Medicaid. Whether or not Republicans will heed us remains to be seen.
