Video: NC mothers took their kids to DC to fight against Medicaid cuts

Two NC mothers drove with their children to Washington to tell Republicans that their daughters, who rely on Medicaid, are “not waste, fraud, or abuse. They are kids to be protected.”

Alexis Stadler and her friend Stacy Staggs drove with children to Washington from North Carolina recently to tell lawmakers in Congress that their daughters, who rely on Medicaid, are “not waste, fraud, or abuse. They are kids to be protected.”

As they walked the halls of the Capitol on Wednesday looking for lawmakers to tell their story to, Republican House leadership worked to vote on a budget bill that they called the “One, Big Beautiful Bill.” The Trump-led budget bill makes huge cuts to social safety net programs like Medicaid to extend tax cuts.

NC news, events, and culture in one free, award-winning email. Sign up for the Cardinal & Pine newsletter here. 

Alexis’ 6-year-old daughter Kinsley has cancer in her brain stem and cerebellum. She also has two rare genetic disorders and other medical conditions. Medicaid helps pay for care that keeps her at home, instead of a facility, Alexis said.

“Kinsley is sunshine in human form,” Alexis said, “as we’re walking the halls of Congress today, she is singing ‘HOT-TO-GO’ with her voice bouncing back on the marble walls!”

Sara Staggs, 11, is one of Stacy’s twin daughters, each of whom were born at only 27 weeks via emergency c-section. The girls spent months in a Charlotte intensive care unit. Medicaid has covered critical therapies, nursing, and feeding supplies over their entire life, Stacy said.

“All of that goes away in a snap with the loss of Medicaid,” Stacy said.

You can find contact information for your member of Congress here.