Iowans in D.C. to tell members of Congress ‘NO tax cuts for billionaires. YES to investing in families.’
This week, a group of Iowans are visiting Washington D.C. to speak to Congressman Zach Nunn and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks about the massive cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP they voted for to pay for tax handouts for corporations and billionaires. Constituents also raised concerns about cuts made by Elon Musk’s DOGE that are making it harder for Iowans to access benefits from the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and more.
Thursday morning, both Miller-Meeks and Nunn cast the deciding votes for a budget plan, which threatens the health and financial security of hundreds of thousands of Iowans through cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in order to stuff the pockets of the ultra-wealthy and big corporations.
The group participated in the ‘Unrig Our Economy’ rally hosted by Fair Share America on Thursday and met with their lawmakers. The message they are sharing is simple: put Medicaid over millionaires, stop trying to pay for tax breaks for billionaires on the backs of working Iowans by cutting the programs we rely on.
Robyn Agu, a registered nurse and host home provider from Altoona, said she is in D.C. to advocate for her clients.
“The clients that I support have physical and intellectual disabilities, they rely on Medicaid and Social Security to be valuable members of our community,” Agu said. “Without their Medicaid services and supports they wouldn’t be able to live healthy and happy lives. I am also a daughter with elderly parents that rely on their Medicare and Social Security and without it they wouldn’t be able to remain in their homes. Cuts to these programs to pay for tax cuts for billionaires will be devastating to my clients and my family.”
Billy Claywell, a social worker, mental health therapist, and grandfather of three from Sigourney, shared that sentiment. His clients majorly depend on Medicaid, SNAP and other programs in their daily lives.
“I'm in Washington D.C. because many of my clients are facing negative repercussions with the current approach of slashing budgets with no regard for the human impact,” Claywell said. “Most of my clients rely on Medicaid and a significant number rely on SNAP benefits to supplement their income”
Johnson County Supervisor and Founding Director of Corridor Community Action Network, Mandi Remington, went on the trip to speak up for Iowans that aren’t being heard.
"I’m in D.C. because access to Medicaid gave my family the care we needed when we had nowhere else to turn,” Remington said. “It covered essential therapies for my disabled children, preventative care for me, and the treatments that helped me carry a healthy pregnancy. That support made it possible for me to build a career and eventually be elected to office. I’m traveling to Washington to speak up for the Iowans —veterans, seniors, disabled people, and rural families—who still depend on this care."
Other Iowans that went on the trip:
Tony Thompson, farmer and entrepreneur from Elkhart
Yolanda Perez, Medicaid recipient from Des Moines
Jerry Stoefen, retired union plumber and small farm owner from New Liberty
Lori Hunt, cancer survivor relying on ACA from Des Moines
After a ten-hour flight delay and traveling from Iowa to Washington, D.C. to meet with Representatives that won’t face them back home, the group was able to talk briefly with Representative Nunn, while Miller-Meeks could not be found after casting her vote for the budget that morning.