Good afternoon,

Rural voters are in the spotlight during the 2024 elections as pundits ponder whether they'll head deeper into the red or if there's room to go blue. In last week's New Hampshire primary, rural voters were slightly less likely to support former President Donald Trump than their urban counterparts. Interestingly, rural Americans are also less likely than urban residents to be voting specifically against President Joe Biden – perhaps revealing space for Biden to make a case for rural America to lean a little more left.

The key, to no one's surprise, is the economy. In the past few years, rural residents have felt the burden of pandemic closures and inflation. While overall economic indicators are positive and legislation such as the American Rescue Plan Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Inflation Reduction Act are targeted towards rural growth, 39 percent of rural voters say that their specific communities are doing worse than the country as a whole and 50 percent say that they have yet to financially recover from before the pandemic.

Much like the Chiefs-49ers Super Bowl from four years ago, we're looking at a Biden-Trump rematch this November. If we want to see a 2020 repeat, rural voters will need to feel some economic gains combined with continued cooling of inflation to give them a bit more relief.

MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS

• Those looking for relief are certainly not going to find it from Republicans.

• Last March, the pandemic-era Medicaid continuous enrollment provision sunset. Since then, 16.2 million people have lost coverage. Now, Republicans in South Dakota, Idaho, and Louisiana are looking to institute work requirements that will further restrict access to life-saving Medicaid.

• Arkansas became the first state to implement Medicaid work requirements in 2018, under the Trump administration. The requirements failed to increase employment in the state, and temporarily removed coverage for 18,000 adults before a judge halted the program.

• The push for work requirements comes as Republicans seek to gain full control of the federal government in this year's elections and use the excuse of cutting federal spending to cut the chances of Americans to lead healthy lives.

• Many of those enrolled in Medicaid are already employed, but don't earn enough money to afford private insurance. Recipients who don't work include children, people with disabilities, and caregivers.

• Rural communities rely heavily on Medicaid, but see higher unemployment, more variable work, lower incomes, and transportation and infrastructure challenges that make it harder for residents to fulfill work requirements – and that's not to mention the difficulty of navigating paperwork necessary to prove compliance.

• It seems as if Republicans have already forgotten lessons learned from the pandemic: health and economic prosperity are tied. We should be focused on expanding Americans' ability to afford health care and prioritizing well-being, not creating additional barriers that harm our neighbors.

BROADBAND IN THE BARN

• Broadband access is increasingly necessary for rural life, from health care access to education opportunities to economic development. More and more, broadband is also becoming critical for modern agriculture.

• A recent Benton Institute for Broadband and Technology report estimates that faster internet speeds could boost production of corn and soybeans in Illinois by as much as $100 million annually.

• Increased internet access enables farmers to process credit card payments on pick-your-own farms, to find and apply to federal grants, and to utilize digital tools that enhance precision agricultural management. Precision agriculture, which allows farmers to adjust irrigation and fertilizer usage based on sensors, has been associated with higher crop yields – consequently improving farms' financial viability. Rural areas must be prioritized, not only to help farmers supply food and fuel for our nation, but also to bolster local economies.

• Idaho Capital Sun: Idaho Medicaid must be protected. Why? Caring for our loved ones and communities is a core value.
• Nebraska Examiner: Nearly 60% of Nebraska's smaller rural hospitals operate at a loss, hospital association says. Pending legislation could help.
• New Mexico Political Report: 'They're so vulnerable': Fiscal problems driving rural New Mexico hospitals to brink

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