‘Make Voters Fearful of the GOP: Kelly and Gallego Unite Against Medicaid Cuts’

In a recent town hall meeting in Scottsdale, U.S. Senators Rueben Gallego and Mark Kelly expressed deep concerns over Republican proposals to significantly cut Medicaid funding. The lawmakers highlighted that such cuts would predominantly impact working-class Arizonans, urging constituents to mobilize and apply pressure on their representatives.

Senator Kelly emphasized the importance of sharing personal stories of those who would suffer from these cuts. He cited the potential for funding reductions to offset tax cuts championed by former President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. “These real stories are our most powerful weapons,” he stated, drawing attention to the urgency of voter engagement.

Senator Gallego echoed these sentiments, advising constituents to make Republicans in Congress prioritize their voters’ fears over their allegiance to Trump. He articulated, “You have to make them fear the voter more than they fear Trump; that’s the only thing they understand.”

The senators addressed growing apprehensions about future Medicaid cuts at the NOAH Cholla Health Center, a facility that could face closure should funding reductions take place. Many patients rely on the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), the state’s Medicaid program. Others are covered under Medicare, which primarily serves older adults.

“What we are discussing today hasn’t happened yet,” Kelly reminded attendees, but he stressed the importance of early engagement. An alarming estimate suggests that around 600,000 Arizonans could lose medical coverage under current proposals that aim for a one-third reduction in Medicaid funding. As of February, over 2 million residents, accounting for more than 20% of the state’s population, were enrolled in AHCCCS.

The consequences of these cuts could include the loss of coverage for approximately 47,000 rural residents and 190,000 children. Furthermore, over one in six seniors could lose access to nursing home care. Additionally, nearly 116,800 Native Americans in Arizona currently relying on the American Indian Health Services plan through AHCCCS would also face coverage cuts.

“These are largely working-class Arizonans,” Gallego emphasized, underscoring that many would opt for private insurance if it were a feasible option. Both senators warned that Medicaid cuts could lead to increased emergency room visits, as individuals might delay necessary care, resulting in more severe health outcomes.

They called for substantial public pressure to prevent Republicans from backing the Medicaid funding cuts, pushing back against sentiments of disengagement from some attendees. Polls indicate that voters increasingly favor Democratic leaders who resist Trump’s policies instead of seeking compromises.

“They fight dirty, and we’re not willing to get in the mud with them,” stated Marcos Castillo from Protect Our Care, receiving enthusiastic support from the audience. Others voiced concerns that mere discussions and phone calls were insufficient to enact change. “We can’t wait. How do we prepare?” implored Kiana Brown, a mother of a foster child with medical needs. She urged the senators to communicate the dire implications of proposed cuts to their colleagues in Washington.

In response, both Gallego and Kelly acknowledged the audience’s fears and reiterated the need for a grassroots movement to compel lawmakers against cutting Medicaid funding. “There is nothing happening in this country that says ‘we need to cut Medicare,’” Gallego declared. “We need to fight them down, we need to grind them down.”