YAKIMA, Wash. – Demonstrators gathered in downtown Yakima to protest potential cuts to Medicaid and Apple Health. The protest took place outside the office of Representative Dan Newhouse, who represents Washington’s 4th Congressional District.
Organized by the Central Washington Families Coalition, the protest drew over 200 people. They voiced their concerns over the potential impact of Medicaid cuts on the community.
Nelly Prieto, a homecare worker present at the protest, expressed her disappointment with Representative Newhouse.
“This is his community. I mean, if he cannot do nothing for his community, the community that put him where he [sits], the community, the people that voted for him, we are counting on him to make sure that these cuts don’t happen,” she said.
According to an interactive map, about 278,000 residents in District Four are enrolled in Medicaid, making it the most Medicaid-dependent district in the state.
Joany Schimmelfennig, an administrator with Good Samaritan Health Care Center, highlighted the impact of potential cuts.
“It will impact the community and also will impact my facility and specifically over 50% of our residents are on Medicaid. So they rely on these services. I’ve been in long term care for 25 years. My residents mean a lot to me and the people that I served in a lot to me. So I’m here for my residents. I’m here to represent them since they can’t be here personally,” she said.
Representative Newhouse, in a statement on February 25th regarding the budget resolution’s passage, stated, “I look forward to working with my colleagues in both chambers to identify savings, and efficiencies, in our federal spending as we move forward.”
Maria Marin, a childcare provider from Walla Walla, also joined the protest. She emphasized the need for empathy from Representative Newhouse.
“Debe de sentir empatía porque nunca debemos de olvidar quienes le dieron su voto y por qué él está donde está y porque está en el poder,” she said which translates to: “[Dan Newhouse] should feel empathy because we should never forget who gave him their vote and why he is where he is and because he is in power.”
The protest lasted just over an hour, with demonstrators hoping to make their voices heard.
“People showing up to the saying and saying message. It means that we have other people that are fighting for the same thing. All these people are right here. They are people. They go work, they depend on Medicaid funds. Look at all these people. They can be without a job. I mean, all these people means that we are going to be here to support each other no matter what,” Prieto said.
Prieto also mentioned that this is not the end of their efforts, stating that the fight to keep Medicaid will continue.
We contacted Representative Newhouse’s office for comment on the protest but have not heard back.
