WATCH: Valadao’s Constituents Feel “Betrayed” Following Vote to Gut Medicaid

• MELANIE ZANONA: “Dr. Carson Chambers is the clinic’s psychologist and says the majority of his patients rely on government assistance.”
• DR. CARSON CHAMBERS: “There’s no frills here. No one’s taking advantage of anything. They’re trying to survive.”
• ZANONA: “An estimated 10 million people are expected to lose their health insurance under the law.”
• “At 22 years old, Rick Garcia was permanently paralyzed after he leaned against a faulty railing on a bridge and plummeted backwards.”
• RICK GARCIA: “I fell 27 feet, landed on some rocks on my head and I broke my neck. Yeah, that changed my life right then and there.”
• ZANONA: “Bound to a wheelchair and unable to work, he lives with his mom Elaine, and has been reliant on Medi-Cal…ever since.”
• GARCIA: “Without Medi-Cal, I’d be..I’d be broke. I’d be really broke.”
• ZANONA: “Valadao’s district has the second highest share of Medicaid recipients in the entire country…and this hospital here in Bakersfield gets 72% of its revenue from the state’s Medicaid state’s Medicaid program.
• This hospital serves as a critical lifeline for the community. Without it, many residents would have nowhere to access care.”
• ZANONA: “Valadao repeatedly vowed to oppose the mega bill, citing his concerns over steep Medicaid cuts and the impacts on rural hospitals.”
• VALADAO: “I will not support a final reconciliation bill that risks leaving them behind.”
• ZANONA: “But under pressure from Trump, Valadao ultimately voted yes. His office said he was not available for an interview for this story, but he previously defended his decision in a statement.”
• “His vote has made Valadao even more vulnerable in next year’s midterm election.”
• ZANONA: “He ended up voting for it. How does it make you feel?”
• GARCIA: “Definitely betrayed.”
• ZANONA: “Are you guys worried that you might be impacted?”
• GARCIA: “Definitely, yes, that will have a big impact on our lifestyle and big impact on our pocketbook.”

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