Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) defended the House reconciliation bill’s changes to Medicaid at a town hall in Butler County, Iowa, on Friday with the statement, “We all are going to die.”
Ernst was taking questions about what Democrats have characterized as cuts to Medicaid in the House-passed domestic policy bill that now lies before the Senate. One audience member was heard shouting, “People are going to die.”
“Well, we all are going to die,” Ernst said, which drew shouts from the crowd. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee circulated a video clip of her remark, calling it “stunningly callous.” Ernst appeared taken aback by the response to her comment at the event, saying, “For heaven’s sakes, folks.”
The House passed a sweeping budget bill last week that would add work requirements for able-bodied recipients of Medicaid, require states to check recipients’ eligibility more frequently, penalize states that provide health benefits to illegal immigrants, and ban Medicaid coverage for transgender surgeries, hormone therapy, and puberty blockers. Democrats said these policies amount to cuts.
“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. We will protect them.”
“If you don’t want to listen, that’s fine. But what I’m doing is going through and telling you that those that are not eligible, those that are working and have opportunity for benefits elsewhere, then they should receive those benefits elsewhere and leave those dollars for those that are eligible for Medicaid,” she continued.
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In addition to the Medicaid changes, the bill would cut taxes and roll back climate policies. It is likely to face major changes in the Senate.
Ernst is in her second term and is up for reelection in the 2026 midterm elections.