Constituents visit offices of Reps. Miller-Meeks and Nunn, asking them to HAVE A HEART: Protect Medicaid, Not Billionaire Tax Breaks

Photo from visit to Miller-Meeks’ Indianola office.

Photo from visit to Nunn’s Des Moines Office.

Des Moines, Iowa – Fairness for Iowa, a coalition of grassroots organizations, is calling on Representatives Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks to protect Medicaid, not give more tax cuts to billionaires. House Republicans released a budget plan this week that proposes deep cuts to Medicaid in order to pay for more tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy. 

In response, constituents took action, visiting Miller-Meeks’ Indianola office on Thursday and Nunn’s Des Moines office on Friday to deliver a petition with hundreds of signatures. The message was clear: “Have a heart—stand up for Iowans and protect Medicaid, not billionaires and special interests.”

“Our representatives must stand up for us and put a stop to destructive funding cuts to health care for working families, children, seniors and individuals with disabilities,” Matt Chapman, from Waukee said. “We demand that they oppose budget proposals to cut essential programs like Medicaid just to fund additional tax breaks for the rich and huge corporations.”

One in five Iowans depend on Medicaid for their health care, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. One of those Iowans is disability rights advocate Zach Mecham. Medicaid allows him to be part of the community and serve other disabled Iowans, run his own business and perform as a comedian as a wheelchair user. 

“I got in my own van and drove here today, somebody got me out of bed this morning so I could leave my home when I wanted to, and none of that is possible without Medicaid,” Mecham said. “I’m asking Zach Nunn to understand that people like me don’t just have a right to be in the community, the community is better when people like me are part of it.”