Medicaid expansion protesters escorted out by police at Kansas Statehouse
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) — A rally for Medicaid Expansion turned into a protest outside of the Senate chambers Tuesday afternoon.
23 protesters were detained by Capitol Police, but none were arrested. The Kansas Highway Patrol said it is now up to the district attorney to decided if any punishment is warranted.
Police officers told protesters to leave the area in front of the Senate chambers. When several refused, the officers began escorting protesters out.
Protesters from the disability rights group, Kansas ADAPT, and the Poor Peoples Campaign of Kansas gathered to urge lawmakers to pass Medicaid Expansion. Senate President Susan Wagle previously announced that she would not let any expansion bill on to the Senate floor for a vote until the “Value them Both” constitutional amendment on abortion rights was passed.
Protesters said that Wagle was holding healthcare for thousands of Kansans hostage. They chanted, “Expand Medicaid now” outside of the chambers. Protesters sat and laid on the ground, while others blocked the entrance to the chambers.
“We’ve kind of just used up all our channels, we’ve written letters, we’ve spoken to our representatives, so now we have to turn up the heat, cause it’s a life and death matter,” said protester, Letiah Fraser.
One man that was detained said the issue was personal for him.
“If I hadn’t had Medicaid, I wouldn’t be here,” said Andrew Rausch. “There are a lot of people that need heart transplants, that need all different kinds of surgeries and procedures, and they just can’t get them because they aren’t on Medicaid.”