Activists lined up on the sidewalk in front of Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani's office on Tuesday, July 1. Nurses and constituents were protesting cuts to Medicaid in the Senate spending package which has been returned to the House after its passage on Tuesday.
Around 50 activists gathered outside of Congressman Juan Ciscomani’s office in Tucson, as part of nationwide rallies against proposed cuts to Medicaid.
Dominique Hamilton, a nurse with National Nurses United, was calling on the Republican lawmaker to vote against President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” in order to stop proposed cuts to Medicaid.
“We are urging him to do the moral thing and vote ‘no’ to this bill,” Hamilton said. “He could stand with the people and not with billionaires and we’re here to urge him to do that.”
The sweeping policy bill passed in the Senate Tuesday morning 51-50 with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie and will now return to the House for a final vote.
Those who voted in favor of the contentious spending package approved of deeper spending cuts to Medicaid, the joint state and federal program that provides healthcare for about 78 million low-income, elderly and disabled Americans.
VIEW LARGER A protestor holds a sign protesting President Trump's, 'big beautiful bill' outside of southeastern Arizona Rep. Juan Ciscomani's Office on Tuesday, July 1. The senate passed the Reconciliation Bill earlier in the morning. Millions of people could lose their coverage under this bill which is why protestors like Jim Hannley, gathered outside of Ciscomani’s office.
“I’m on Social Security and I also use Medicare so I’m very concerned that my Medicare benefits are going to be in jeopardy as well,” Hannley said.
To help pay for the reconciliation budget, Republicans’ have proposed cutting more than $1 trillion from the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and Medicare.
Hamilton noted that if the cuts are codified, patients will begin to ration their pills more than usual.
“They would not go to the hospital should they need care because of fear that they’re not going to be able to pay for it,” Hamilton said. “I’ve had patients check themselves out of the ICU because they can’t afford it.”
Hamilton works at Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital and added that she is also worried about drastic staffing cuts amid a national nursing shortage.
In May, Ciscomani voted to approve President Trump’s 'big beautiful bill' that included cuts to Medicaid services.
Last week, he and 15 other representatives penned a letter to Senate and House leaders, urging them to protect Medicaid.
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