Sen. Joni Ernst on Friday dismissed her constituents' concerns about possible Medicaid cuts from the Republican spending bill with a blunt fact of life: "We're all going to die."
"When we're talking about the corrections in this reconciliation bill, again, it's corrections of overpayments and people that have not been eligible for these programs by law as it is currently written," Ernst said, as she responded to a constituent during a town hall.
The Iowa senator hosted a town hall meeting in her home state and spoke about Trump's "big, beautiful" budget reconciliation bill, which moves to the Senate. Ernst responded to concerns about the changes to food stamp and Medicaid benefits, which one estimate projects would result in 10 million people losing access to the health program.
"When you are arguing about illegals that are receiving Medicaid benefits, 1.4 million," Ernst began. "They are not eligible. So, they will be coming off."
A town hall attendee shouted out, "People will die."
"Well, we all are going to die," Ernst said, slightly smiling. The crowd then groaned and some heckled Ernst.Ernst argued that changing eligibility requirements would prevent undocumented migrants from getting Medicaid benefits. Currently, undocumented immigrants cannot receive Medicaid.
"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 said. "Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect."
