Nunn and Miller-Meeks must choose health care over war spending
Congressional Republicans are now considering even more health care cuts to fund the wildly unpopular and expensive war in Iran.
Iowa’s representatives have already inflicted immense damage to the state’s health care systems. Before the war in Iran, Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn:
Voted for the largest cuts in history to Medicaid, which put rural hospitals at risk of closure in order to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.
Refused to keep health care affordable for over 100,000 Iowans, causing the longest government shutdown in history. Nunn eventually voted to keep the tax credits, but has said he has a plan to get rid of the Affordable Care Act entirely.
Ignored their constituents' calls to keep health care affordable, Miller-Meeks even said to one concerned Iowan, “I’m not going to talk to you”.
Already this year, there have been several cuts across Iowa because of these policy decisions:
The MercyOne Ottumwa clinic closed in February, leaving hundreds of patients and 30 staff members seeking new healthcare options and employment.
MercyOne in Clinton announced that it will be ending labor and delivery services, making it more difficult and more dangerous to deliver a baby in rural Iowa as access is reduced across the state.
MercyOne announced layoffs in Des Moines and Mason City, leaving more hardworking Iowans looking for new jobs.
Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in Fort Madison announced it will discontinue its inpatient birthing services.
Pella Regional Medical Clinic in Ottumwa reduced family practice operations in January.
Mazie Stilwell, executive director of Progress Iowa, said that Iowa’s elected leaders need to oppose any further cuts to health care. “It’s unconscionable that Republicans are even considering cutting health care to fund war,” Stilwell said. “Iowa’s health care system is already breaking because of the health care cuts our representatives voted for last year. Nunn and Miller-Meeks need to speak up and stop this proposal in its tracks to avoid worsening the ongoing health care crisis they caused.”