TOPEKA (KSNT) — Kansans are speaking out against lawmakers who are voting to cut Medicaid.
The GOP-led One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed the US House by a razor thin margin. 215 House members voted to pass it, while 214 voted against it.
Local Kansas activists are calling out Rep. Derek Schmidt, a Republican who voted to pass the bill. A group of protesters gathered outside of Schmidt’s office in Topeka Thursday afternoon and expressed concerns about cuts to Medicaid.
“Today is life or death,” protester Dillon Warren said. “We voted someone in there that we shouldn’t have. He doesn’t support us.”
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that if the bill passes, at least 7 million people will lose Medicaid coverage. For that reason, many Kansas voters are making their voices heard.
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“We need Medicaid for medical equipment,” protester Rick Macias said. “These chairs are $200,000 if not more. So, it’s very important that Medicaid sticks around.”
27 News reached out to Schmidt, who was unavailable for comment. A spokesperson for the congressman provided 27 News with a written statement.
“Congressman Schmidt is a strong supporter of Medicaid for people the program is designed to help: those who are disabled, in nursing homes, pregnant, raising small children, or otherwise in need. Unfortunately, some states have abused the program by providing benefits to illegal aliens, millions of healthy young adults who choose not to work, or people who are not eligible to receive taxpayer-funded benefits from the program. That is the main reason why Medicaid spending has exploded by more than 50 percent since just 2019: an unsustainable rate of growth that puts benefits for Americans who need them most at risk. By addressing this abuse of the program, Congressman Schmidt is protecting both the traditional Medicaid recipients who rely on benefits and the taxpayers who pay the bills.”
Spokesman for Rep. Derek Schmidt
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