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U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., talks with Carol Maniscalchi of Putney before the start of a town hall forum at the Bellows Falls Opera House on Monday, April 14, 2025.

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BELLOWS FALLS — U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., said it's clear the President Trump and House Republicans are on a path to make massive cuts in Medicaid, despite what they say.

Balint said the size of the cuts in the federal budget — $880 billion — could only come from Medicaid, despite assertions by House Speaker Michael Johnson that Medicaid would not be cut. 

Balint spoke during a standing-room-only town meeting Monday at the Bellows Falls Opera House, and the heavily Democratic crowd of more than 400 gave Balint a standing ovation even before she started to speak.

But while Balint was constantly applauded, the crowd made it clear with their repeated questions that they were disappointed with national Democratic leaders for their failure to act against Trump or have any kind of a strategy to counter his drastic actions. 

Lisa Moir of Westminster West drew the loudest applause from the partisan crowd, when she urged Balint to do more to get Democratic leadership to take action.

"Where is the unified message?" Moir said. "Give these people some leadership," she said to applause and hoots of approval. 

Balint said she was very disappointed with Democratic leadership, but any move toward impeachment of Trump would be futile with the Republicans in control of the House. 

Balint painted a gloomy if not depressing picture of Washington in the control of Trump and his plans to drastically cut government, including Medicaid and Social Security.

She said the House Republicans who had shown independence in the past were cowed and fearful of Trump and his Jan. 6 crowd, many of whom came directly to the Capitol as soon as they were pardoned by Trump.

House members are fearful of Trump, she said, and feel they must protect their families, rather than challenge him and vote against him.

But the picture Balint painted was dark. "It's even worse on the inside," she said. And she pointed to the arrest earlier in the day in Colchester, Vt., of a Palestinian activist from Columbia University in New York City, who has lived in Vermont and owns land here. 

Everyone, she said, is entitled to due process.

Balint — along with Vermont's two senators, Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch — sent out a press release during the Town Meeting condemning the arrest of Mohsen Mahdawi, who has not been charged with a crime but was one of the foreign students who led demonstrations against Israel during the Gaza War last year. 

Mahdawi has a green card and is a legal resident of the United States, and was detained when he showed up for an appointment with U.S. Immigration about his application to be a U.S. citizen, Balint said. 

Balint praised the people who turned out two weekends ago in the "Hands Off" demonstration, and she urged people to continue to fight and demonstrate.

Vermonters should reach out to other Congressional districts with Republicans, and question Trump's actions and policies, she said.

Trump is counting on Democrats becoming "hopeless" and not doing anything to push back against his cuts and policies, she said. 

More than one person, who had been selected to ask a brief question by lottery, said they felt helpless in the face of all the cuts and disruption to government.

And while the House Republicans hold a very slim four-seat majority, so far, she said, the Republicans have held together.

Where are the cracks, people wanted to know. 

Balint said she has been surprised and pleased with some of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have gone against the Trump administration, and she said those decisions were cause for subdued hope. 

"I have more faith in the Supreme Court than I did a few months ago," she said. Its rulings and decisions have "given me a little bit of hope." 

Peter Stickney of Saxtons River said he was most worried about Trump "undermining our judiciary."  

Balint said that while Republicans claim they aren't going to cut Medicaid, the numbers tell the real story, as they have endorsed a $880 billion cut to human services.

The only budget item that big, she said, is Medicaid.

One man, David from Springfield, said he is fearful for his brother, who lives in a nursing home in Vernon, which is paid for by the man's Social Security check and Medicaid. 

Balint urged people not to get overwhelmed with the news coming out of Washington, and if possible, to focus on one issue — whether it is reproductive rights, veterans rights, or climate change. People have to stand up against the country's movement toward authoritarianism, she said.

"It matters you showed up," said Balint. "You care about your commuity." 

And she said she took no comfort in praise from Vermonters who say they are so happy she is representing them in Washington so they "don't have to pay attention." 

Contact Susan Smallheer at ssmallheer@reformer.com.

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