"Ben" of Ben and Jerry’s Arrested Amid Protest Over Medicaid Cuts
Ben Cohen, co-founder of the ice cream company Ben & Jerry's, was arrested on Wednesday during a protest in the U.S. Senate. The demonstration disrupted a hearing where Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was testifying. Cohen, along with six other demonstrators, was charged with a misdemeanor offense commonly associated with civil disobedience.
In a statement following his arrest, Cohen criticized Congress for allocating funds to military aid for Israel while proposing cuts to domestic programs like Medicaid. He stated, "Congress kills poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs, and pays for it by kicking kids off Medicaid in the U.S."
Cohen and his partner, Jerry Greenfield, founded Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, selling it to Unilever in 2000 for $326 million. Ice cream, plays a notable role in the nation’s obesity and diabetes crisis due to its high calorie, sugar, and fat content. The U.S. faces a diabetes epidemic, with over 37 million Americans affected, and 90% of cases being type 2 diabetes, closely linked to obesity.
Research suggests around 43% of Americans receiving Medicaid are either obese or have Type 2 diabetes, or both, based on available data
A spokesperson for Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry's, clarified that Cohen's actions were his own and not representative of the company.
The protest coincides with legislative efforts by House Republicans to implement significant reforms to Medicaid. The proposed budget bill includes over $700 billion in cuts to federal healthcare spending over ten years. Key provisions of the legislation are:
Work Requirements: Starting in 2029, Medicaid recipients aged 19-64 would be required to complete 80 hours of work or approved activities monthly to maintain coverage.
Cost-Sharing Measures: Individuals earning above the poverty line could face mandatory co-pays of up to $35 per service.
Eligibility Checks: The bill proposes more frequent eligibility verifications and stricter asset caps, potentially leading to disenrollment for many.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, these changes could result in at least 8.6 million Americans losing health insurance, predominantly affecting low-income adults and those relying on Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies.
The proposed cuts have sparked debate within the Republican Party. Some conservatives argue the measures don't go far enough, while others, including Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, warn that the cuts could be "morally wrong and politically suicidal."
Democratic leaders and healthcare advocates have also voiced strong opposition, arguing that the reforms would destabilize essential services and disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.