House Republican Booed, Heckled During Town Hall After Opposing Free Healthcare for All
Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) was repeatedly booed and heckled on Monday as he spoke about changes to healthcare during a tumultuous town hall.
“I know this is probably gonna be met with some resistance. I want the opportunity to tell you and talk to you about healthcare in the bill we just passed,” said Flood at the beginning of the town hall, as heckles could be heard in the audience. “I know this is something a lot of people have questions about and, quite frankly, from where I sit, there’s been a lot of misinformation out there about the bill.”
As the audience erupted into booing, the congressman pleaded, “Please let me tell you why I voted the way I voted and then we will take your questions and you will have an opportunity to get answers.”
“There’s a lot of people in this country that don’t know the difference – and I’m not saying for any reason – between Medicare and Medicaid,” he went on. “We did not make changes to the Medicare program. So if you’re watching this – if you’re watching this, and let’s say you’re 78 years old and you hear Medicare, you need to know you will not see any changes.”
As he continued to be heckled and shouted down, Flood said, “There was talk about a medical clinic in Curtis closing. First of all, it was not a hospital. Second of all, it had four patients a day. And third of all, the bill had not even been signed yet, and any changes don’t apply until 2027.”
Flood received the biggest reaction, however, after he spoke about taking free healthcare away from people who refuse to work.
“If you are able to work and you are able-bodied, you have to work. If you choose not to work, you do not get free healthcare,” he said as the audience erupted into boos. “Okay. So here’s a question. Do you think that people who are 28 years old, that can work and refuse to work should get free healthcare?”
As the audience shouted, “YES!” Flood concluded, “I don’t think that a majority of Nebraskans agree with you.”
During the Q&A portion of the town hall, the audience erupted again after Flood was asked, “Why are you covering up the Epstein files?”
Watch above via Nebraska Public Media.
