Mike Flood — booed at city corridor — nonetheless stands by Trump’s agenda : NPR

Consultant Mike Flood felt the total fury of his constituents over his help of President Trump’s “One Massive Stunning Invoice” at a city corridor assembly in Lincoln, Nebraska this week.

Flood — a second-term Republican — hosted the general public gathering Monday evening the place attendees loudly berated him about issues that social security internet packages, particularly Medicaid, can be affected by the president’s signature piece of laws.

Attendees from the gang of greater than 700 additionally questioned the president’s controversial method to immigration enforcement and repeatedly heckled Flood as he tried to defend the tax and spending measure. At one level many within the viewers chanted “Tax the wealthy!”

The city corridor, which has gone viral, wrapped up with chants of “Vote him out!”

In an interview with Morning Version, Flood stated “it is vital to face within the city sq. and clarify your votes and what it means to dispel misinformation and take questions,” noting that the “most spirited” attendees are regulars at his city halls and residents of town.

Whereas talking to NPR’s Steve Inskeep, Flood defended the modifications Trump’s tax and spending measure makes to Medicaid — as Flood did repeatedly in the course of the city corridor.

“For those who’re in a position bodied, you may work and also you select to not work, then you’ll not get free well being care,” Flood stated, referring to the added Medicaid work necessities in states which have expanded the protection internet program.

Flood additional detailed why he backs the modifications made to Medicaid, Trump’s tariffs and the way he hopes they may profit his state by subsequent yr.

This interview has been edited for size and readability. 

Interview highlights

Steve Inskeep: You talked preemptively, as a matter of truth, about Medicaid cuts, that are a part of the large funds invoice that President Trump signed just lately and that you simply voted for. You insisted that solely people who find themselves not eligible for Medicaid or individuals who do not work might be faraway from the well being care rolls. What makes you positive of that?

Rep. Mike Flood: Nicely, you understand, the president was really very clear. He didn’t need us to mess with Medicaid. He stated it in somewhat bit extra emphatic method. I stated it in the course of the city corridor. For those who’re in a position bodied, you must work. For those who select to not work. You don’t get free well being care. You don’t get free well being care. Medicaid is the protection internet. It’s for the susceptible, for the developmentally disabled, for the expert care wants of most of our older adults that find yourself at a nursing dwelling. And for pregnant girls. And I feel loads of the misinformation has drummed up some hysteria that I feel must be dispelled.

Inskeep: I wish to ask about the concept that individuals who aren’t eligible are saved off the rolls. That sounds affordable. However on our air, we have heard from Julie Rovner with KFF Well being Information, who’s deeply, deeply versed on this matter. And he or she informed us the first method individuals might be separated from their insurance coverage is elevated paperwork. Everyone has to supply an increasing number of proof that they are eligible, even when they’re sick or susceptible. And I feel everyone knows how paperwork works with insurance coverage firms. They discover a mistake and kick you off. Is that what you are relying on to economize?

Flood: Nicely, that is not what I voted for. If you’re disabled, if you’re persistently mentally in poor health, I do not need it laborious for you to have the ability to entry the packages. And in order implementation unfolds, if there’s tweaks that have to be made, then by all means, let’s make it. It isn’t my intent that or not it’s laborious for them to get or entry the advantages.

Inskeep: However that is the maths, proper? I imply, that is how this works now.

Flood: Proper. However I am not apprehensive about Nebraska’s Medicaid program. , well being take care of all is completely different in California than a medicaid program in Nebraska, the place we’re, for my part, miles forward when it comes to our error charges and the way in which we course of this. These are the sorts of issues that must occur.

Inskeep: There’s one other factor you stated on the city corridor assembly. You stated, we consider in medical analysis and folks have been upset. Individuals booed. Even at a later level, a constituent stated the president unilaterally slashed medical analysis on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being and Congress did nothing. Why would Congress do nothing?

Flood: Nicely, Congress is doing one thing. We’re going to go a funds. I don’t need a unbroken decision. I do not wish to discuss rescissions. I desire a funds that may get 60 votes within the Senate. And I would like the medical analysis funding included. I would like it accomplished on the College of Nebraska Medical Middle. Clearly, there’s been a row with Harvard and a few of these different high tier universities. However I would like the medical analysis. I would like it in there. I would like America to prepared the ground right here. And in order that’s why I desire a funds.

Inskeep: I perceive. Wanting ahead to the funds, however DOGE, the Division of Authorities Effectivity, made all these cuts and it does appear that almost all in Congress did nothing about it.

Flood: Nicely, there’s loads of waste, fraud and abuse on the market. Let’s take one factor that DOGE touched, and that is the Nationwide Climate Service. Once I discovered the cuts that have been being made there by way of these retirements, I went to work instantly. And I’ve since been in a position to get 500 some jobs reauthorized for the Nationwide Climate Service. There are these of us in Congress which are working to ensure our authorities runs effectively and we’re not out waving a flag, attempting to name consideration to ourselves. We’re simply merely doing our job. And I want individuals may see that.

Inskeep: A constituent requested you, as they put it, to “reclaim your energy” to set tariffs, import taxes, to take it again from the president. And in response to a commerce courtroom, this constituent would appear to be proper as a result of the courtroom discovered the president exceeded his energy to set tariffs. Why is it acceptable for the president to take your energy and lift and decrease taxes on an virtually weekly foundation?

Flood: Nicely, presidents have had this energy for the higher a part of 50 years. And when President Trump was in workplace the primary time again in 2017, he used these tariffs very successfully to get us good offers with China, Canada and Mexico.

Inskeep: Totally different authorized rationale in 2017. He is utilizing a legislation that hasn’t been used on this method as far as I do know.

Flood: Nicely, it is nonetheless a tariff-driven commerce coverage. I feel there’s a possibility to open some markets right here, and that is how we will develop the economic system in Nebraska.

Inskeep: Does it bother you in any respect as a conservative that one individual is elevating and decreasing taxes each few days?

Flood: Nicely, the best Christmas present we may have on this nation is to have our commerce partnerships and our commerce insurance policies and the whole lot wrapped up by Christmas time. We’ve to be very steady. We’ve to be very predictable. We’ve the most effective monetary markets on the planet. We’ll have our tax cuts in place. That is the muse that we will construct the expansion on. We do not have that proper now, however I am shopping for into it as a result of I would like these commerce offers accomplished. Let’s begin 2026 and let’s go to work.

Inskeep: Can I simply ask general about this city corridor assembly? There was loads of booing. There was loads of shouting. There have been loads of laborious questions. You appear fairly calm the entire time. Do you take pleasure in that?

Flood: Nicely, you understand, in my broadcasting days, I liked it when individuals loved my program. Proper. So it isn’t satisfying to see individuals get so upset. I do assume it is my job to be there and I do assume that I must mannequin the habits that I would like our authorities to mannequin. And here is one factor. I do not know if I get credit score for it or not, however I do know some individuals that may by no means vote for me come to those issues. I feel it is considerably cathartic for them to have the ability to have the chance to deal with their consultant authorities. And I inform the police earlier than I begin, I do not need anyone drug out of right here. I don’t need anyone eliminated or arrested. I would like them to have the ability to say what they should say. This a part of the deal, that is the way in which individuals really feel proper now. Let’s allow them to do their factor and maintain going.