Protesters rally outside Rep. Begich’s office in Anchorage over Medicaid cuts

There were many unhappy protesters outside Nick Begich’s office in Anchorage. Folks are here to voice their frustrations to Representative Nick Begich on the House's recent decision on Medicaid. The protesters had a hospital bed with 330 flowers, representing 30,000 Alaskans who will lose health care. Evie McNamee, one of the protesters, feels that the House's decision could have serious consequences.

"They cut Medicaid, they cut Medicare. And this is what's going to happen," said Evie McNamee. "There's going to be a lot of dead people laying around on the streets because they're going to have nowhere to go. They're not going to have anybody to pay the bills."

Rebecca Reiss hopes to send a message to Representative Begich.

"I just really implore you to amplify the needs of your people," said Reiss.

Protesters made their way to Begich's office with flowers in hand. There, they left behind the flowers and again voiced their frustration. Retired physician Peter Baur says he’s disappointed with the representative’s decision.

"It just shows that he really doesn't have the interests of regular Alaskans at heart, and we need to change that," said Baur.

A spokeswoman for Representative Nick Begich responded in a statement, saying, "This is nothing more than misleading theatrics intended to distract from the historic measures that Congressman Begich has accomplished. We are driving accountability and defending the integrity of this program, and Alaskans deserve the highest quality of care."