TELL THE SENATE: Republican Medicaid cuts would take away health care from 14 million people. GOP Sen. Joni Ernst brushed off public outcry over the cuts saying, “Well, we all are going to die” as a justification for endangering the lives of her constituents. Sign the petition: Oppose massive Medicaid cuts and protect health care for millions!

Hi,

House Republicans passed a devastating $700 billion cut to Medicaid that will strip health care from 14 million people.1

At a recent town hall, angry constituents confronted GOP Senator Joni Ernst over the cuts. When some expressed worries that people would die from losing Medicaid coverage, Ernst said, “Well, we all are going to die.”2 The glib remark from an elected leader holding the fate of American health care in her hands is awful, ridiculous, and unacceptable.

Pressure on Republicans is mounting, and some GOP Senators are backing away from these cuts, but Trump is determined to pass his “big, beautiful bill” to gut Medicaid and hand a giant tax cut to the rich. We need to make sure the entire Senate clearly hears the call to protect Medicaid.

Sign the petition: Urge the Senate — even Sen. Ernst — to save Medicaid and save lives. Don’t let the GOP take health care away from millions!

As Iowa state senator Zach Wahls said, “Yes Joni, we are all going to die, but it shouldn’t be our SENATORS who are killing us.”3

Sen. Ernst remains unapologetic about her comments and the GOP plan to defund Medicaid. Trump, Speaker Johnson, and other Republicans also show no signs that they care about the people who will be forced off their health coverage.

The Senate is the last opportunity to halt these devastating Medicaid cuts and stop Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” from reaching his desk.

Sign the petition: Save Medicaid from GOP cuts and stop a massive tax break for the ultra-rich.

Thanks for taking action,

Joey and the team at Demand Progress

Sources:

  1. PBS, “How the GOP’s proposed Medicaid cuts could affect millions of family caregivers,” May 24, 2025.
  2. Washington Post, “Ernst posts snarky reply after telling town hall 'we are all going to die,'” May 24, 2025.
  3. The Nation, “Joni Ernst’s Cruelty and Sarcasm Might Cost Her Her Job,” June 3, 2025.

 

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