WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — A small group of protesters were placed in handcuffs and removed from a Capitol building Tuesday during a demonstration over proposed Republican spending cuts.
The group was chanting “No cuts to Medicaid” and “No justice, no peace” inside the Cannon House Office Building, which houses representatives’ offices, when the apparent arrests were made.
Capitol Police placed multiple protesters in handcuffs and escorted them away from the rotunda in which they were demonstrating.
BREAKING- a group of protestors arrested in a House Office Building of the US Capitol, protesting Republican planned spending cuts. They chanted “No cuts to Medicaid” and “No
— Joe Khalil (@JoeKhalilTV) May 16, 2023
justice, no peace” @NewsNation pic.twitter.com/rrhTQoDxeD
“Multiple warnings (standard practice for demonstrations) were given to a group of people demonstrating inside of the Cannon Rotunda. We had 12 arrests (10 women and 2 men) for 22-1307 demonstrating inside of a Congressional building,” United States Capitol Police wrote in a statement to NewNation.
The apparent arrests occurred as President Joe Biden was meeting with House and Senate leaders for negotiations on lifting the debt ceiling. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned the government will run out of funds to pay its bills by June 1, giving Biden and lawmakers about two weeks to reach a deal.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Republicans have said they won’t agree to raising the debt ceiling without spending cuts, while Biden has said the debt limit shouldn’t be used as a negotiation tool. He’s vowed to keep the United States from defaulting on its obligations.
According to the GOP’s plan, if passed, for adults to qualify for Medicaid, they would need to work, do community service or take part in an employment program at least 80 hours a month. There is also the option to earn a certain monthly income.
The exemptions to this requirement would include children, women who are pregnant, parents of dependent children and people with physical and mental disabilities.
“It lifts people out of poverty. Put them into jobs. What that does is helps our supply chain. No longer do we borrow money from China to pay people not to work. The only thing we’re talking about are able-bodied people with no dependents,” McCarthy said.
But with the proposed changes from Republicans, 1.5 million people would lose federal funding for their Medicaid coverage while 600,000 people would become uninsured, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Republicans said they believe the requirements could reduce spending and help people find jobs. However, Democrats and Biden remain opposed to the changes.
“We have to come to common ground. That’s the only way this has ever gotten done. It has never gotten done with one party saying you have to do it my way. You have to get both parties in both houses together,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.
McCarthy said after Tuesday’s meeting a deal is possible by the end of the week, but the two sides remain far apart.