A heated exchange between U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler and his constituents in New Yorkโs 17th District has gone viral after the Republican lawmaker was ruthlessly booed for attempting to justify his vote on a federal budget plan that would cut $880 billion from Medicaid.
The video, first shared on Reddit, shows Lawler struggling to deliver his talking points before being drowned out by an angry crowd. His claim that the goal of the budget cuts was to eliminate “waste, fraud, and abuse” was met with audible groans, boos, and shouts of “liar!”
Lawler was speaking at the “Rally in the Valley,” an event held on March 7 at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY. The gathering drew an estimated 3,000 attendees, many of whom rely on Medicaid for healthcare or work in agencies that serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
As Lawler attempted to defend his vote, calling for fiscal responsibility, the crowd grew increasingly hostile. His insistence that the bill aimed to reduce government waste was met with skepticism, as many advocates and experts argue that such drastic budget reductions would gut essential services rather than target fraud.
The Reddit thread discussing the video exploded with criticism of Lawler and the broader Republican stance on Medicaid cuts. Many commenters pointed out the hypocrisy of GOP lawmakers citing fraud while allowing figures like former Florida Governor Rick Scottโwho oversaw one of the largest Medicare fraud scandals in U.S. history: to remain a prominent figure in the party.
One highly upvoted comment read:
โIf Republicans are so concerned with waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid, why is Rick Scott, who orchestrated a billion-dollar fraud on Medicare, still walking around?โ
Others warned that attacking Medicaid is politically dangerous, even for swing-district Republicans like Lawler.
โCuts to Medicaid are a fast ticket to losing elections. You can hate trans people, DEI, and โthe wokeโ all you want. But if Medicaid is cut, all of that goes out the window. Americans vote with their wallets.โ
Political Implications: A Bad Sign for Lawler?
Lawler, who represents a swing district covering Rockland and parts of Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties, is already facing an uphill battle for re-election in 2026. New Yorkโs 17th District flipped Republican in 2022, but Lawlerโs seat is widely considered one of the most vulnerable in the country.
His Medicaid vote (and the viral backlash that followed) could damage his standing in a district where 7 million New Yorkers rely on Medicaid.
Even though Lawler tried to walk back the reaction by claiming he has always stood up for Medicaid and Social Security, the crowd wasnโt buying it.
His final words before leaving the stage were “I will always stand up to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security” which were met with more boos and shouts of “liar!”
The videoโs spread online signals a growing political vulnerability for Republicans in battleground districts. As healthcare remains a top voter concern, especially among low-income and elderly populations, GOP lawmakers who support budget cuts targeting social programs could face an onslaught of voter anger in 2026.
For now, Lawlerโs moment of humiliation has been immortalized online, serving as a reminder of the political risk of going after Medicaid, especially in a swing district like his.
