By: Luis Avila / KESQ – Palm Desert, CA

People with disabilities and supporters gathered Monday outside Rep. Ken Calvert’s office to protest potential cuts to Medicaid.

Under the recently passed Budget Reconciliation bill, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees programs like Medicaid, has been instructed to cut at least $880 billion in waste, fraud and abuse.

Judy Mark, organizer, says that would only stop vital money from reaching those who need it.

“There is no proof there is that much in waste, fraud and abuse. We’re not saying that you can’t tighten things up here and there but what we know is that my son who depends on medicaid will be devastated by the cuts. This is not small tinkering around the edges, they are using a hatchet to get out waste, fraud and abuse.” 

Demonstrators are demanding Calvert, who voted in favor of the budget plan, reverse course. They marched to his Palm Desert office, but it appeared no one was there.

Read full article and watch video coverage here.