Protesters caused a disruption in the Rayburn Building on Tuesday as the House Energy and Commerce Committee began consideration of their part of the Republican reconciliation bill.
Democrats have been pushing the claim that Medicaid was going to face cuts, despite Republicans and President Donald Trump saying that they were not going to make such cuts. Cutting waste and fraud in the program is not "cuts" that affect benefits. Indeed, it would make the system better.
READ MORE: Democrats Are Again Lying About Supposed Medicare/Medicaid Cuts in the Budget CR
Protesters managed to get people out in the hallways and even into the Committee room, including people in wheelchairs.
Protesters just interrupted the E&C reconciliation markup during opening statements with shouts of “No cuts to Medicaid.”
— Victoria Knight (@victoriaregisk) May 13, 2025
There are also large crowds of advocates protesting in front of the committee room and in the hallways of Rayburn. pic.twitter.com/jCEwRIWsK2
According to the U.S. Capitol Police, at least some of the people were taken into custody.
USCP on protest at Energy & Commerce Cmte markup of reconciliation bill: 26 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating in the Rayburn House Office Building. They were arrested for 22-1307 Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding. It is against the law to protest inside the…
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 13, 2025
26 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating in the Rayburn House Office Building. They were arrested for 22-1307 Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding. It is against the law to protest inside the Congressional Buildings.
Capitol Police leading protestors away from the Energy and Commerce markup.
— Kyle Stewart (@KyleAlexStewart) May 13, 2025
Per @frankthorp: USCP says “25 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating” in the Rayburn building. pic.twitter.com/VbfVtzcAbw
Hmm, allegedly illegally demonstrating during a proceeding. Is law enforcement going to hunt them all down? Will they be getting any punishment? I wouldn't bet on it.
What was the reaction of the Democrats to all this? They thought it was great. According to Fox's Aishah Hanse, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) rallied protesters.
Sen Cory BOOKER just showed up outside the Energy & Commerce Committee markup to rally protestors — Dems say Republicans are going to make cuts to Medicaid. pic.twitter.com/sSllHnxOlU
— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) May 13, 2025
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) were also there.
Sens. Booker, Schatz, and Smith met with protesters — who cheered and applauded — as they thanked them for what they were doing pic.twitter.com/VIa3YdiMCA
— Cami Mondeaux (@cami_mondeaux) May 13, 2025
That sounds like a problem. The Republicans in Congress need to call out such actions. You can protest outside, without obstructing the proceeding, and the Democrats should not be encouraging/cheering on a group involved in such behavior.
But again, unless there are consequences from their colleagues in Congress, I don't expect Democrats to stop such behavior.
Editor's Note: Leftist agitators are disrupting businesses and government proceedings across the country. They must face justice.
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