Flag Family News Reporter Austin Erickson’s conversation with GOP North Dakota Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak
FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak held what she called eight productive meetings with her North Dakotan constituents at her Fargo office on Thursday.
The Republican says the 10 minute-per-meeting conversation topics included concerns and ideas around Medicaid, farming, biotech and electric vehicles.
Flag Family News attempted to talk with those constituents after their meetings outside the Republican’s office.
Only one agreed to speak with Flag Family.
Patricia Camisa owns the Cappuccino Connection in Mandan and is concerned about cuts passed by Congress in the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” President Donald Trump signed into law.
She says she staffed the coffee shop so she could meet with Fedorchak and advocate for her son and others.
Camisa is waiting to hear back about a possible medical diagnosis she says could qualify him for a Medicaid waiver.
During her meeting, Camisa says she heard “a lot of the same talking points I’ve seen on the news”.
She added that included Fedorchak and her staff telling told her “Medicaid was changing and they would be keeping an eye on how it changes and that it was getting rid of the wasteful spending.”
Listen: Austin Erickson’s interview with Patricia Camisa
Fedorchak says those reforms impact working-age, able-bodied people without children who will be required to work, volunteer or go to school for at least 20 hours a week to maintain coverage.
“I think I was heard.” Camisa said. “[They] had spoken about how they would bring these issues to Washington [but] I can’t say I have a ton of faith.”
During an interview with Flag Family News, Fedorchak said she appreciated hearing from Camisa.
“It’s discouraging that she thinks it’s talking points. I tried my best to explain the truth of what is included in the bill,” Fedorchak explained.
“Hopefully over time she’ll see the truth of that and the impacts to her child if he does qualify for Medicaid. She’ll realize that what I was trying to portray was true.”
The congresswoman went on to say those who are disabled and the traditional Medicaid population aren’t largely impacted by the eligibility changes.
Fedorchak says another constituent who works in the tech industry talked about diversifying the United States economy through biosciences and biotech.
Another proposed a legislative idea for universal plug-ins for electric vehicles.
Yet another constituent also brought up Ukrainian workers in North Dakota helping the business community and wanted to secure their work status long-term.
