Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ could strip healthcare from 281,000 Iowans, and Ernst doesn’t care

DES MOINES - Okay.  It’s now official.  Joni Ernst is nothing but a mean girl.

At her town hall on May 30th,  Joni Ernst infamously told a constituent concerned about Medicaid cuts that  “Well we all are going to die.” Instead of apologizing for her disgraceful conduct, she doubled down and filmed a sarcastic apology video from the middle of a cemetery. Now, when asked by an interviewer if looking back she would’ve done anything differently, she tripled down and said “No, I don’t think so.”

In case she needs a reminder as to why Medicaid and SNAP are so important to Iowans, we’ve included some relevant information below:

The CEO of Washington County Hospital and Clinics has warned that rural hospitals are at risk of closing or reducing services if the Medicaid cuts go through. Over 60% of their patients are covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

Iowa’s mental health system is already under severe strain, and Medicaid cuts could harm it further. Only 760 mental health beds are available in a state with over 3.2 million people. We cannot afford to lose any more.

Iowa Ranks 44th in physicians per capita, an issue only made more severe by the fact that many of these doctors don’t work in rural communities. Medicaid cuts would only accelerate this trend, and expand the healthcare deserts spreading across the state.

The Joint Economic Committee estimates that if Trump’s budget bill is passed, over 90,000 Iowans will lose health coverage because of the cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act listed within.

And if she needs a reminder as to why Congressional representatives shouldn’t be mean and/or dismissive to their constituents, Iowans will deliver that message in 2026.