DES MOINES, Iowa — The AFSCME Bus Stop Tour stopped in Des Moines, discussing the possible impacts of President Trump’s recently signed “Big Beautiful Bill” on Iowans.

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) says they are holding the tour in order to hold politicians Rep. Nunn and Miller-Meeks and Sen. Ernst accountable for supporting the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

“AFSCME members, all union members, don’t do this for credit. We do it because it matters, we care for our communities, and when others stay silent, we show up, but when politicians like Zach Nunn vote to cut public services, we don’t sit back, we organize and we fight,” Todd Copley, AFSCME Council 61 President, said.

Held at Cowles Commons, the crowd heard Iowa Attorney General Candidate Nate Willems, President of the Iowa Federation of Labor Charlie Wishman, AFSCME members, business owners, and Medicaid recipients speak.

The “Big Beautiful Bill” has been criticized for its potential to raise healthcare costs and reduce access to services like healthcare and food assistance, which could affect rural communities in Iowa. During the event, community members shared their experiences and concerns over the new legislation.

“The reality is that Medicaid directly benefits one in five Iowans working families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities, and that Medicaid indirectly benefits us all. It’s Medicaid that stands in the gap, ensuring providers, disproportionately those in rural communities, are getting paid for their work and keeps people insured and which in turn keeps the costs down for the rest of us,” said Abbey Paxton, owner of Storyhouse Bookpub.

“The cuts to Medicaid and SNAP will take a lifesaving access to health care and food away from those who need it most. Those that are already the most food insecure, like the students in my district, who rely on school as a place that they’ll get a warm meal every day because they don’t have food at home. Sometimes our students show up even in crisis, and we pick them up from homeless shelters every day,” said Lyle Crone, a bus driver for Des Moines Public Schools.

President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” was signed earlier this month after months of back and forth on Capitol Hill. Just before signing the bill, Trump was in Iowa, where he spoke about its impacts and benefits to Iowans.