(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says the cuts in the so-called “Big Beautiful Budget Bill” for Medicaid are only for people who shouldn’t be in the program. “The key I support is making sure this program exists for people who actually need it. What we’ve seen is that over a million illegal immigrants have been getting coverage on Medicaid,” she says.
She says the program is not intended for illegal immigrants. “That’s unacceptable, and that coverage should be going to people who actually need it. And when you look at the provisions in the bill, that is exactly what it’s supposed to do. It kicks illegal immigrants off of taxpayer-funded Medicaid benefits, one-point-four million of them. It also eliminates waste, fraud, and abuse by doing that,” Hinson says.

Hinson says she doesn’t want to touch the benefits for those who really deserve them. “The intent of Medicaid is to protect those with disabilities, seniors, mothers with single mothers with children, not 29-year-old men playing video games on their mother’s couch in the basement,” Hinson says. “We want people getting back to work. If you don’t qualify for Medicaid benefits, you shouldn’t be receiving them, and that includes illegal immigrants.”

IA (R) Congresswoman Ashley Hinson

Hinson made her comments during a conference call with reporters.