I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding a comment you made during a recent town hall. When discussing the impact of potential cuts to Medicaid, you reportedly said, “Well, everyone is going to die anyway.” I was stunned and deeply disturbed by the callousness of that statement.
Medicaid is not a luxury—it is a lifeline for millions of Americans, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families. People with autism, for example, rely on Medicaid to access critical therapies, services, and support that allow them to live with dignity and participate in their communities. Your statement disregards their humanity and the real suffering these cuts would cause.
Additionally, it is misleading and harmful to suggest that people without a Social Security number—so-called “illegals”—are taking advantage of the Medicaid program. That is simply not true. Federal law bars undocumented immigrants from receiving Medicaid benefits, and perpetuating this myth only further stigmatizes marginalized communities while distracting from the real issue: ensuring Americans in need get the care they deserve.
I expect more from an elected official representing the people of Iowa. Comments like yours don’t reflect compassion, leadership, or an understanding of what your constituents face every day. You have a responsibility to the people you serve—not just the healthy and wealthy, but those who are most vulnerable.
I urge you to reconsider your stance and your rhetoric. Iowans deserve leaders who care. The families who depend on Medicaid deserve dignity, not disdain.
Do better.
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