Rep. Juan Ciscomani zeroed in repeatedly on protecting Medicaid benefits during a telephone town hall Wednesday evening — but only for those who “need them.”
“I do not support taking away Medicaid benefits from anyone who needs them,” Ciscomani said in his introductory comments, before repeating the idea for emphasis. “I want to be very clear there, I do not support taking away any Medicaid benefits from anyone who needs them.”
Ciscomani, a Tucson Republican representing Congressional District 6, has been outspoken about his desire to protect Medicaid, which provides health care to more than 20 percent of the people in the district. But he also voted in March for a continuing resolution that requires $880 billion in cuts by the committee overseeing Medicaid, virtually assuring some cuts in spending.
He explained that decision as a preliminary vote to begin the budget conversation, not a final position. But a caller zoomed in on Ciscomani’s qualifier about those who “need” the benefits.
“I’ve heard you say that you don’t want to cut Medicaid for, quote, ‘The people who need it the most,’ “ the caller said. “I take that to mean that you plan to cut Medicaid for some people. And I’m going to tell you that everybody that you cut Medicaid for, needs it. Every single person.”
U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani pledged not to cut Medicaid benefits to those who "need them."
Ciscomani responded that he wants to “clean up the books” at Medicaid; ensure “that people that are not supposed to be getting them (benefits) don’t get them”; guarantee “improper payments” aren’t being made; and “that we have work requirements as well.”
Specifically, he suggested healthy, able-bodied adults without dependents should not be on Medicaid.
“We need these people back in the workforce,” he said.
Arizona’s Medicaid program, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), has been looking into imposing work requirements and time limits on some Medicaid members.
Meanwhile, Democrats, including Arizona’s U.S. senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly, have been criticizing Republicans for their proposed cuts to Medicaid. They’ve argued that Republicans’ spending cuts to such programs for the poor will be used to pay for tax cuts benefiting the wealthy.
— Tim Steller
Town hall tactics
Many Republican Congress members have shied away from holding in-person town halls after several were confronted by angry crowds in recent weeks.
Ciscomani gave short notice for his telephone town hall, announcing it on social media a half-hour before it began. Some constituents received emailed invitations to the town hall 15 to 30 minutes after it was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
While some Arizona Democrats have held in-person town halls, they have tended not to be free-for-alls announced early and open to the general public. Gallego and Kelly have held Medicaid-oriented town halls that were announced to advocacy groups beforehand and attended largely by people with an interest in preserving Medicaid.
Gallego did have open town halls, focused on Medicaid, in Sierra Vista and Douglas, though.
Another town hall is happening in Tucson on Sunday. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, both Democrats, will be in Tucson at 6 p.m. Sunday, an announcement said, “Since Arizona Republicans like Juan Ciscomani refuse to meet with their constituents after their disastrous vote to put Medicaid on the chopping block.”
Booker is the senator who just set the record for a filibuster, holding the U.S. Senate’s floor for 25 hours while speaking out against President Trump and his policies.
The organizers did not publicly announce the location. You can RSVP for the Booker event here.
— Tim Steller
Supervisor candidates chat
Five of the six candidates seeking the vacant seat on the Pima County Board of Supervisors participated in a virtual forum Wednesday night.
A recording of the hour-long forum, put on by the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson, can be found on Pima County’s YouTube page.
Lewis David Araiza Sr., Kimberly Baeza, Andrés Cano, Richard Hernandez, Karla Bernal Morales and Cynthia Abril Sosa Ontiveros all met the requirements to run for the seat, but Hernandez did not show up during Wednesday night’s virtual forum.
On Thursday, Hernandez told the Star he did not participate in the forum because he believes the process is “all smoke and mirrors,” and the seat is already Cano’s. He also expressed mistrust in the League of Women Voters’ handling of the forum.
The District 5 seat opened up after Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, who was re-elected to her second term in November, resigned from her post after announcing she will run for the Tucson congressional seat held by her late father Raúl Grijalva. He died March 13.
Supervisors expect to name a replacement for Grijalva during their meeting Tuesday. That person will face election in 2026.
— Charles Borla
Tucson Council candidates confirmed
Twelve candidates submitted signatures by the Monday deadline to be candidates for Tucson City Council this year.
In Ward 6, the Democrats are Miranda Schubert, Leighton Rockafellow Jr., Theresa Riel and James Sinex. Republican Jay Tolkoff also filed.
In Ward 5, the candidates are all Democrats: Jesse Lugo, Selina Barajas, Christopher Elsner and Fabian Danobeytia.
In Ward 3, the candidates are Democrats Sadie Shaw and Kevin Dahl, the incumbent. Republican Janet Wittenbraker also filed.
The city’s primary election is scheduled for Aug. 5, and the general election for Nov. 4.
— Tim Steller
