In a shocking response, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst responded to constituent concerns over the GOP mega bill's $880 billion in Medicaid cuts by deadpanning that...we all have to die sometime.
Taking exception to part of your essay, namely: "...Senator Ernst, and her fellow Republicans...have gold-star, gold-plated healthcare through their government jobs. They pay low deductibles and low co-pays. None of them have to worry about paying for... or the rest of the full range of physical and mental healthcare needs."
Where is your evidence that Senators (and why cite only Republicans?) all have gold-plated healthcare with low deductibles and low co-pays? Elected officials to federal office and their staff appear to have ACA choices via DC Health Link ranging from Bronze to Platinum plans (www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/insure-faq/health/how-will-members-of-congress-and-designated-staff-obtain-health-coverage/). Your assumption may be true for most Senators (and Representatives), regardless of party, but your narrative indicates a fact rather than an educated guess.
Also, I find your use of the term "government jobs" as an accurate label for elected Senators problematic. This term used in this context, particularly during this time of public attacks on federal employees, opens the barn door wide for mental mixing in readers' minds of elected official and staff with unelected federal employees. Senators occupy elected positions earning 6-figure salaries (www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-do-senators-make-salary-election-2024/) from which they cannot be fired. Clearly, elected officials cannot make their millions in/from the public sector. Federal employees (Executive Branch) work jobs from which they can be fired and, on average, earn an average compensation about 40% lower than that of elected officials (www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/07/what-the-data-says-about-federal-workers/). As a recent federal employee, I did not have access to a "gold-plated" healthcare plan with low deductibles/copays. Additionally, the healthcare plan choices made available to federal employees are not those that are made available to Congresscritters and staff via DC Health Link.
I got my pitchfork!
Taking exception to part of your essay, namely: "...Senator Ernst, and her fellow Republicans...have gold-star, gold-plated healthcare through their government jobs. They pay low deductibles and low co-pays. None of them have to worry about paying for... or the rest of the full range of physical and mental healthcare needs."
Where is your evidence that Senators (and why cite only Republicans?) all have gold-plated healthcare with low deductibles and low co-pays? Elected officials to federal office and their staff appear to have ACA choices via DC Health Link ranging from Bronze to Platinum plans (www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/insure-faq/health/how-will-members-of-congress-and-designated-staff-obtain-health-coverage/). Your assumption may be true for most Senators (and Representatives), regardless of party, but your narrative indicates a fact rather than an educated guess.
Also, I find your use of the term "government jobs" as an accurate label for elected Senators problematic. This term used in this context, particularly during this time of public attacks on federal employees, opens the barn door wide for mental mixing in readers' minds of elected official and staff with unelected federal employees. Senators occupy elected positions earning 6-figure salaries (www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-do-senators-make-salary-election-2024/) from which they cannot be fired. Clearly, elected officials cannot make their millions in/from the public sector. Federal employees (Executive Branch) work jobs from which they can be fired and, on average, earn an average compensation about 40% lower than that of elected officials (www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/07/what-the-data-says-about-federal-workers/). As a recent federal employee, I did not have access to a "gold-plated" healthcare plan with low deductibles/copays. Additionally, the healthcare plan choices made available to federal employees are not those that are made available to Congresscritters and staff via DC Health Link.