Daniel Hernandez holds press conference in Yuma
Danyelle Burke North
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Congressional District 7 candidate Daniel Hernandez held a press conference Tuesday in Yuma.
According to a press release obtained by KYMA, Hernandez slammed Senate Republicans for “their dangerous budget bill that cuts access to Medicaid.”
“What it’s going to do is negatively impact tens of thousands of people in rural communities just like Yuma, whether it’s Santa Cruz, Cochise, or Yuma County,” Hernandez expressed.
Hernandez is also calling on Arizona House Republicans to vote against the bill’s passage.
“Rural hospitals are going to be negatively impacted by this, and I think that’s why we have an opportunity when it goes back to the house to really apply pressure to people who are in the house to say this is not good enough, and we need to go back,” Hernandez said.
The press release says Yuma City Council member Karen Watts, who is also a nurse, is joining Hernandez during the press conference.
“It’s estimated about 370,000 something like that are going to lose insurance here, so that’s going to be a hard pill to swallow,” said Watts.
Hernandez’s personal story has inspired his passion for fighting for healthcare.
“When I was 17 years old, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and almost died because I didn’t have health care. And if it hadn’t been for the state children’s health insurance program through the medicaid program, I wouldn’t be here today. So when I’m talking about fighting for these things, it’s not just because it’s a good idea, it’s because it literally will help keep people alive,” said Hernandez.
Hernandez says he wants to update the rules and invest more into rural communities.
“Those are things that congress can do to make sure that we’re creating more jobs for doctors and nurses and other practitioners in rural communities that will not only help create more jobs and opportunities for those people but actually help make sure that we expand access,” said Hernandez.
Hernandez is running against several Democratic candidates, including Adelita Grijalva and Deja Foxx, in the Arizona Special Primary Election on July 15.