House Republican booed at town hall after saying SNAP cuts due to US not having ‘unlimited money’ – Washington Examiner
Rep. Mike Flood, a Republican from Nebraska, faced boos and heckling at a town hall in Lincoln after defending his vote to cut funding for SNAP (food assistance) programs, citing that the United states does not have “unlimited money.” When questioned about cuts to SNAP and healthcare,Flood emphasized changes to Medicaid requiring able-bodied adults to work to receive benefits. his explanations were met with hostility, as attendees largely disagreed with his stance, particularly on withholding free healthcare from able-bodied individuals who refuse to work.
This event follows a trend of contentious Republican town halls nationwide, where elected officials have been confronted by outspoken constituents, leading some Republicans to reduce public meetings. GOP defenders argue that many disruptions are organized by Democratic activists aiming to portray republicans negatively. rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), who has experienced similar incidents, described many protests as orchestrated efforts to silence debate rather than genuine constituent concerns. Flood’s latest town hall echoed his previous encounters, which were similarly disrupted by hecklers.
House Republican booed at town hall after saying SNAP cuts due to US not having ‘unlimited money’
Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) was given a poor reception at a town hall after saying he voted to cut SNAP programs because the United States doesn’t have “unlimited money.”
Flood held a town hall in Lincoln, Nebraska, that followed a pattern of other recent Republican town halls in getting taken over by hostile citizens. At one point, a crowd member took the microphone and asked Flood why he “cut SNAP and healthcare research.”
“We do not have unlimited money in the United States,” he answered after a brief pause, triggering loud boos from much of the audience.
Flood went more into depth with another answer, attempting to explain the cuts and why he voted for them.
“It talks about two big changes to the Medicaid program,” he said, referring to the healthcare reforms instituted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “One of those changes is that if you are able to work and you are able-bodied, you have to work. If you choose not to work, you do not get free healthcare.”
The audience was heckling Flood throughout his answer, then erupted in a crescendo of boos at his conclusion.
“OK, OK, so here’s a question,” he continued. “Do you think that people who are 28 years old that can work and refuse to work should get free healthcare?”
The crowd loudly responded mostly in the affirmative.
“I don’t think the majority of Nebraskans agree with you,” Flood responded.
Republicans have been plagued by raucous town halls for months, with hecklers usually targeting cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency or cuts made through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The displays caused House Republicans to cut back on town halls.
Defenders have argued that the harsh displays aren’t organic and that Democratic activists purposefully target the events to make Republicans look bad, with some outlets and Republican leaders alleging that liberal groups infiltrated Republican town halls to give the appearance of organic dissent.
In a May appearance on Fox News’s Hannity, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), who was given similar treatment, pointed out that a woman escorted out of his town hall by police was an activist with a history of inflammatory statements.
“I’ve done over 50 town hall meetings and mobile office hours in my district since taking office back in 2023. I have no problem doing them,” he said. “This is part of democracy. People have a right to come and ask their representatives questions. But the fact is, these folks don’t want to hear answers. They don’t want to know what I have to say or why I may vote the way I vote on a certain issue. They want to come and protest.”
MIKE LAWLER BLAMES ‘DEMOCRATIC PLAYBOOK’ FOR UNRULY ATTENDEES AT HIS TOWN HALLS
“They want to come and try to silence debate and discussion, and the fact is we have them on video just a week ago talking about what they’re going to do to interrupt, boo, hiss, jeer, yell, scream, stomp their feet, and storm out, and so that’s exactly what they’ve done,” Lawler added.
Flood’s Monday town hall was a near repeat of his last town hall in March, which was effectively shut down due to heckling.
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