June 28, 2017

'Die In' Protest Held In Indianapolis Ahead Of Senate Vote

Article origination IPBS-RJC
Die In outside the Indianapolis office of U.S. Sen. Todd Young. - Jill Sheridan/IPB

Die In outside the Indianapolis office of U.S. Sen. Todd Young.

Jill Sheridan/IPB

More than 50 people gathered outside Republican U.S. Sen. Todd Young’s Indianapolis office today for what’s known as a “die in.”  The protest centered on the Republican health care bill.

The group held painted grave markers and laid down on the sidewalk outside Young’s downtown office building.

Catherine Osborne drove from South Bend to be at the event. She’s worried about the future of Medicaid.

“It covers half of all births in this country. It covers the severely disabled, the elderly, indigent and children. These are people that need medical care and I can’t understand why a pro-life Republican would be voting to take it away from them,” says Osborne.

In a statement Young’s spokesman says he continues to consider the input of all Hoosiers. Staffers were out talking with protesters, including Alexandra Penn, who says she’d like to see more cooperation.

“Ideally we’d love to see the Republicans cross party lines work with Democrats to really repair the current health plan,” says Penn.

She’d like to see the Affordable Care Act repaired not repealed.

“I think we all know there are problems with the ACA, and we’d like to see those addressed,” says Penn.

A vote on the bill has been delayed until after the July 4 holiday.

Support independent journalism today. You rely on WFYI to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Donate to power our nonprofit reporting today. Give now.

 

Related News

Report: Indiana local public health funding program generates significant savings
Activists worry that Trump will bulldoze trans rights. Here's how they're preparing
Federal appeals court upholds Indiana’s trans youth gender-affirming care ban