Joni Ernst defends ‘big, beautiful bill’ Medicaid changes in town hall: ‘Well, we all are going to die’

Published May 30, 2025 1:36pm ET



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.”

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