U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus) was sidelined for several weeks by surgeries, missing key votes but returning in time to vote against President Donald Trump's large tax cut and spending bill last week.
Beatty agreed to be interviewed briefly by WOSU Tuesday about her health, the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" and her own political future. The 75-year-old, six-term congresswoman wants people to know she isn't backing down as Democrats remain out of power in the White House and both chambers of Congress.
This interview was edited for length.
George Shillcock: Congresswoman Beatty, thank you so much for joining us. The first thing I want to ask you is simply you announced that you went through a hip replacement surgery and also an eye surgery as well. I want ask how are you feeling and how is your recovery going?
Joyce Beatty: Well, first of all, thank you for doing that. I'm doing well, trying to be on schedule with all of the medical requirements, as well as meeting the needs of of my constituents. And that's something that, of course, I take very seriously, but I also take my health very seriously. So it was a delicate balance. But I knew it was important for me to be here in Washington, so I made the decision to fly in for that critical budget bill vote.
George Shillcock: Like you just said, you made that decision to fly in and make that vote on the budget reconciliation bill. I want to ask, tell me a bit more about why it was so important for you to fly to Washington to make sure you were able to vote on that?
Joyce Beatty: Well, it was important to me because I couldn't imagine people not having health care. And when you think about all of the things in that deal that were going to harm people across the United States and also people of Ohio's third congressional district. I have insurance and I know how important that was. But when you think about Medicaid and all of those individuals who depend on Medicaid. And when you think about the tens of thousands, George, of people who will lose their healthcare as early as January, it was unthinkable to me. If I look at just my district, there are some 200,000 people who rely on Medicaid.
George Shillcock: Do you think given that the bill passed and what we've seen so far, that this could come back to bite Republicans if not in 2026 but in 2028 as well?
Joyce Beatty: I think history repeats itself. You probably were around and remember with the Affordable Care Act. They tried to repeal it, but the American citizens, women marched with pink hats on. People fought back. People lost elections. Look, it's not a coincidence that Republicans are resigning and leaving early or announcing that they're not running again because it's a no-win situation for them. But the American people are seeing straight through this. I think that you have already seen in some states that were carried by Donald Trump, that now Democrats are prevailing and winning.
George Shillcock: Given your health conditions, going through the surgeries, having to miss a couple of votes — including the one on public media and foreign aid rescission — I wanna ask if this experience has at all made you think about your political future, running again, possibly not running. What has this made you think about all of that?
Joyce Beatty: I'm not sure what you're asking me. I don't think any of these things have had an effect on me not running. I think it was clearly indicated by me coming with all of my health conditions that were conditions that could be easily fixed. I'm an athlete, so I'm sure some of those long stretches with tennis or tumbles over years that I've taken probably didn't help my hip at all. But now with technology, thank goodness I'm up and walking, looking forward to campaigning, looking forward to resuming tennis and all of the other activities.
I think that my district and my country needs me more now than ever. I have a strong voice in the halls of Congress. I'm respected. So I say this has only prepared me to dig in deeper and fight more, because that's what we need right now. We need people who are experienced. We need people, who have a history of not being afraid, whether it is Donald Trump, whether it is the Republicans who are standing in the way of my constituents. I'll be there fighting for them.
George Shillcock: So we can expect to see Congresswoman Joyce Beatty on the ballot in 2026?
Joyce Beatty: You can expect to see Congresswoman Joyce Beatty on the ballot.
