Idaho Congressman Properly Ethered for Saying, 'Nobody Dies Because They Don’t Have Access to Health Care'

Representative Raul Labrador, a Congressman from Idaho, was attacked by voters for saying, "Nobody dies because they don’t have access to health care."

May 7, 2017

A congressman from Idaho is in hot water after he told a group of his constituents, "Nobody dies because they don't have access to healthcare."

Representative Raul Labrador, who voted to approve the American Health Care Act of 2017 (better known as the AHCA), held a town hall meeting with his constituents following the House passing the legislation. One particularly upset woman challenged the merit of the decision, pressing Labrador for deciding to go ahead with it. You can see the exchange in the video up top.

“You are mandating people on Medicaid accept dying," said the woman. "You are making a mandate that will kill people."

Labrador was drowned out by boos and screams after he subsequently downplayed the importance of healthcare to his constituents. Thanks to the back-and-forth being filmed, Labrador's comments reached far and wide on social media, with people lining up to attack the Representative for his wild suggestion.

The House's vote on a new, Trump-approved healthcare bill sparked outrage all over the country. Medicaid expansion under Obamacare is set to be cut under the AHCA, with experts expecting that hundreds of millions of dollars will taken out of the program.

Americans are fearful of other far-reaching consequences of the legislation, with the loss of protection against pre-existing conditions and cost of new "high-risk pools" two major concerns. Some people are attempting to find morbid humor in the aftermath—a website has even popped up that promises to mail your ashes to a Republican Congressman in the event the AHCA leads to your death.

While Americans may not be able to agree on a universal solution to the healthcare debate, the AHCA is not quite set in stone. Members from both sides of the aisle in the Senate have expressed concerns about the bill in its current state, and the AHCA is expected to undergo major changes even if it is able to win a majority of votes there.

“I think there will be essentially a Senate bill,” said Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO).