Iowa Senator's 'We All Die' Remark on Medicaid Cuts Stirs Controversy

Senator Joni Ernst's controversial comments on Medicaid cuts sparked a heated debate at a recent town hall in Butler County, Iowa. An attendee challenged Ernst's assertion that the cuts would only affect those ineligible for Medicaid, arguing that the cuts would lead to preventable deaths. "People are not—well, we all are going to die," Ernst responded, a statement that drew immediate criticism. Ernst's claim that 1.4 million undocumented immigrants are receiving Medicaid benefits, a figure echoed by the White House and other Republicans, is based on a Congressional Budget Office analysis. This analysis suggests that one provision in the bill would result in 1.4 million people losing coverage, a group that includes, but is not limited to, individuals lacking verified immigration status. The incident highlights the ongoing conflict surrounding healthcare and budget allocation.