Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) recently made headlines with her comments on Medicaid in a post on her Instagram story on Saturday.
“Hello everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for my remarks at City Hall yesterday,” Ernst said in a sarcastic video clip.
On Friday, Republicans in Iowa faced backlash for minimizing critical concerns regarding cuts to Medicaid, a public health insurance program for low-income families and individuals with disabilities.
“Watch me as I respond to questions from the audience. People will die when a distraught woman yells from the back of the auditorium,” Ernst stated on Saturday.
“I mistakenly assumed that everyone in the room knows, yes, we all understand we will leave this earth, so I apologize. And I am genuinely thrilled that the topic of the tooth fairy has come up,” she continued.
Iowa lawmakers encouraged viewers interested in “eternal life” to “hug” Jesus Christ.
At a gathering on Friday in Butler, Iowa, Ernst assured that Republicans would “protect” social services for the most vulnerable populations.
She indicated that individuals who work elsewhere and can access benefits would “receive those benefits elsewhere,” leaving taxpayer funds available for those eligible for Medicaid.
If the Senate approves the current GOP-controlled House spending bill, millions could lose their healthcare access.
“Children sustain injuries. Women get injured. Elderly Americans who depend on Medicaid for nursing home and home care will face harm.
“Hospitals in your district will close. Nursing homes will shut down. And people will die. This is not hyperbole. It’s not an exaggeration. It’s a reality,” he added.
All Democrats who voted in the House opposed the bill.
Several Senate Republicans have committed to defending the law against proposed changes to Medicaid, phasing out clean energy incentives, and increasing federal debt.
Source: thehill.com