A group of protesters, including individuals in wheelchairs, were arrested on Capitol Hill during a demonstration against proposed cuts to Medicaid. The protesters were taken into custody by Capitol Police after staging a protest against the Republican-led spending package that includes cuts to Medicaid, which would affect millions of low-income Americans.
Proposed Medicaid Cuts and Work Requirements
The proposed cuts to Medicaid are part of a massive spending package that Republicans are pushing through. The cuts are projected to impact around 10 million low-income Americans over the next 10 years, potentially leaving many without healthcare coverage.
The legislation also includes additional work requirements for individuals using the Medicaid program, which has been a point of contention for many who rely on it for essential medical care.
Arrests and Demonstration Details
At least 33 people were arrested on charges of “illegally demonstrating” inside the Russell Senate Rotunda on Capitol Hill, according to a Capitol Police spokesperson. The protesters were accused of crowding, obstructing, and incommoding, with one additional arrest made for allegedly crossing a police line.
Despite being arrested, the protesters continued their demonstration, chanting slogans like “no cuts to Medicaid” and “kill the bill”. They also unfurled a banner on a staircase that read, “Senate Republicans don’t kill us,” though it was quickly confiscated by the police.
The Timing and Political Context
The demonstration took place just before President Donald Trump’s Fourth of July deadline for passing the legislation. The bill, which has already passed the House of Representatives, is set for a vote in the Senate in the coming days, potentially as soon as Thursday or Friday.
Medicaid cuts have been deeply unpopular among Democratic lawmakers and even some Republicans, especially those from rural areas where local hospitals rely heavily on federal funding to remain operational. Some Republicans have proposed a $15 billion “stabilization fund” to support such hospitals.
Divisions Within the Republican Party
Although Republicans hold a majority in both the House and Senate, there are still divisions within the party about the proposed Medicaid cuts. Some Republican lawmakers, including Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, have raised concerns about the political fallout from the Medicaid cuts.
Tillis, in particular, has warned that the cuts could be wildly unpopular with voters, especially those in rural areas where hospitals rely on Medicaid funding.
Tillis has even distributed flyers in his state, explaining why the legislation would negatively affect North Carolina, particularly because of the proposed Medicaid cuts. He has also cautioned that Republican senators up for re-election in the coming years could face negative consequences if the legislation passes.