In rural Louisiana, Speaker Mike Johnson’s constituents fear potential Medicaid cuts

Vinton, Los Angeles-in the backyard of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, many populations are based on anti-poverty programs to help meet their-Wozlumloan needs with the Republic of Louisiana to protect these benefits as Congress weighs discounts in acute federal spending.

Reverend Leroy McClelaland, who lives in the Johnson region in the southwest of Louisiana and volunteers in a local food bank, said that he depends on stabbing and food stamps after being exposed to many medical issues and will be in a dangerous “link” without governmental assistance. He added that he was far from alone in these struggles.

“People cannot dispense with it,” McLilland told NBC News outside the food bank. “So I would like to tell them (Congress) to help us. Help us. People are harmful here. You may be from Louisiana, but you are the home speaker. Corporator. Work together to do what you have to do. This is my message.”

Samar Stinson, a four -year -old mother who was taking food for her family as well as an elderly woman who could not drive, said that the possibility of potential cuts of social safety network programs was highly weighed in her minds.

“My children are on medical aid. Yes, I do. Steinson, a citizen of NBC News, said:” I am very afraid, and they reach the place where insurance is not really reasonable with our companies. “I don’t know what we will do without.”

In the rural Johnson region of Louisiana, approximately 25 % of adults under the age of 65 depends on Medicaid, according to NBC news analysis, while receiving nearly 20 % of families food footage. Politically, it is a deep red region that Johnson won by 85 % of the vote in November. Louisiana was one of the states that expanded Medicaid under reasonable prices, and the program now covers 72 million Americans across the country.

Each of the anti -poverty programs can be on the cutting block where Republicans search for cuts in deep spending that were identified in a conversation The budget decision passed by the house -dominated by the Republican Party It is designed to cancel the overall local policy agenda of President Donald Trump. Although the budget scheme itself does not clarify any changes in politics, it requires high -end spending cuts from the committees that oversee the Medicaid program, supplementary nutritional assistance program, or food stamps.

Johnson and Trump insisted not to cut the advantages of medical aid. The spokesperson’s office referred to NBC news to the recent comments made by Johnson on this topic when requesting the comment. He has repeatedly said that they are only looking to remove waste, fraud and ill -treatment, as well as make reforms to enhance programs.

“Medicaid is a big problem because it contains a lot of fraud, waste and abuse,” Johnson told reporters at a weekly news conference. “Everyone is committed to preserving Medicaid benefits for those who need it desperate, deserve and qualify for it. What we are talking about is to eradicate fraud, waste and abuse.”

But there are doubts about Congress – and without partisanship Congress Budget Office – They can achieve these levels of savings without discounts to Medicaid and Snap.

One of the main changes of Republicans who are thinking seriously is to put work requirements for adults capable of the body. However, here in Venton, Los Angeles-a small rural city city with many low-income populations who suffer from the cost of goods and groceries-people say it is simply no job opportunities. Those who have a job say their hours have been reduced. There is no reliable transportation to travel to jobs in neighboring cities.

One block lines in the downtown area with many closed companies.

“It is a wonderful society. It is just, it is a low income for the largest part. Thus what we do is that we are only trying to help by helping them in additions that do not extend their food along the way. The priest without Snyder said of the Christian Life Church, who started the food bank 10 years ago, they really need it.” “There is no transfer. The problem is that, in this society. … there is no industry here.”

Snider expanded the operation over the years, and said it now feeds nearly 350 families per week, or 7,000 people per month. It depends on a mixture of donations and helps from the US Department of Agriculture. But the size of the food can vary from month to month, which sometimes means that the number of people who are fed or given less food.

As grocery prices rise, the community has struggled, and more population has relied on the food bank here. Which makes things worse, the region is still recovering from natural disasters.

“They lost their jobs, lost their homes, lost their cars, and lost everything, mainly, and then they depend on to eat. Angel Legon, who picked up the food for six other families and carried her sedan to the edge:“ I am here every week. ”Some people could not stay or make it without these resources. … and medicine, let’s not talk about it. “

Cars are lined around the mass to collect baskets of products, bread, meat and other donor goods. Some people traveled in cars and took food to multiple families who did not have cars, while others traveled with bike or foot and food in the vehicles.

One of these residents who traveled to the Food Bank on Tuesday morning was Dowen Dosay from Lake Charles, Los Angeles, a retired environmental microbial scientist and primary care provider for his disabled granddaughter of adults, who receives a maid and other forms of government assistance from the state.

Dosay voted in favor of Johnson, who was widely supporting the Trump administration’s batch to curb federal spending within the framework of the Ministry of Government – but he also warned that taking hatred for social safety network programs would be destroyed for his family and society.

“I don’t know what we’ll do without them. I’m really no. It was difficult.” “I can do Dog, but I feel the decision of Congress.”