Locals react to Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego’s Medicaid Town Hall

Senator Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego hosted a town hall in Phoenix, urging people to speak of their opposition against potential Medicaid cuts.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego from Arizona hosted a town hall in Phoenix Monday to discuss potential Medicaid cuts.

According to the senators, the Republican's plan is to cut Medicaid health coverage across the country, including Arizona. 

According to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, otherwise known as "AHCCS," around two million Arizonans are enrolled.

Senator Kelly claims the potential cuts of medicaid and other programs would be for billionaires such as Elon Musk to receive a task cut.

He explained just how important the program is for the state of Arizona.

"Medicaid is the foundation of our health care system in the state of Arizona. You kick 750,000 people off of Medicaid, that means those resources from the federal government aren't going to be here anymore," said Sen. Kelly.

Meanwhile, Senator Gallego explained how this could impact the state's economy.

"It will be bad for our economy, our public sector health, our hospital, our doctors...They're a big driver of this economy you will essentially be causing layoffs that are unnecessary," said Sen. Gallego.

Kelly Lethem, local Yuman, shares how medicaid helped her in a time of need.

"I was a single mom and thinking back, if I didn't have that, I wouldn't of been able to go to school and take care of my kids, and be able to afford for them to have affordable health care," said Lethem.

The senators are also asking people to voice their opposition to the potential cuts by reaching out to their lawmakers and educating loved ones about what is happening.