This week, The New Republic reported on Rep. Zach Nunn’s (IA-03) comments about the Affordable Care Act — which he said “enslaved” its beneficiaries — and his repeated attempts to gut health care for his constituents.
Key Points:
- Nearly 137,000 Iowans stand to lose their access to the Affordable Care Act marketplace if Representative Zach Nunn has his way.
- Last week, Nunn told the Westside Conservative Club that he believed the “ACA keeps people in a position of permanent servitude.”
- Nunn maintained a similar tone earlier in January, when he told the “America first” podcast Steak for Breakfast that the Obama-era solution was a “disaster” that had “enslaved” its beneficiaries.
- Despite the needs of his constituents, Nunn voted for the deleterious funding package, and in doing so contributed to the closure of multiple health clinics in his state that partially relied on federal funding.
- They included a MercyOne clinic in Ottumwa, which is expected to close at the end of February, the MercyOne Family Medicine clinic in Traer, and the Henry County Health Center-Wayland Clinic.
Published: Feb 13, 2026 | Last Modified: Feb 23, 2026