Joni Ernst

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, told Newsmax on Wednesday that she's "optimistic" bitter Republicans who lost in the primaries will not prevent "common sense" from prevailing in Congress the rest of the year.

Appearing on Newsmax's "Wake Up America," Ernst said Republicans still have major priorities to accomplish despite internal divisions following several high-profile primary defeats of GOP incumbents who opposed President Donald Trump.

"I'm always optimistic that common sense will prevail," Ernst said after being asked whether defeated GOP primary candidates could create problems for House and Senate Republicans.

"I know it's not common in Washington, D.C., but I do think that there are a number of really great initiatives that we as Republicans need to be moving on."

Ernst pointed to the Senate's reconciliation package, saying she remains hopeful Republicans can "get this over the finish line."

The Iowa senator also previewed a Senate hearing Wednesday focused on alleged Medicaid fraud tied to home healthcare programs, particularly in Ohio and other states where billions of taxpayer dollars may have been improperly used.

Ernst is chair of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.

Joining Ernst on the program was Daily Wire investigative reporter Luke Rosiak, who has reported extensively on what critics describe as widespread abuse of Medicaid-funded home care benefits.

Rosiak warned the system has evolved beyond helping vulnerable Americans and now resembles "sort of a universal basic income that nobody in Congress ever voted on."

According to Rosiak, some individuals bill Medicaid for caring for family members while performing routine household duties such as cooking and cleaning.

"It's obvious that there are doctors signing off on people who didn't really need it, and people who are billing for work they didn't really do," he said.

Rosiak cited examples from New York, Virginia, and immigrant communities where home healthcare businesses allegedly flourished under lax oversight.

He also referenced Virginia Senate Democrat leader Louise Lucas and Somalia's ambassador to the United Nations as figures connected to Medicaid-related businesses.

Ernst agreed stronger oversight is needed, arguing taxpayer-funded programs are increasingly vulnerable to fraud and abuse.

"These are things that need to be scrutinized," Ernst said. "It shouldn't be just a universal basic income for folks that are helping out their loved ones. That is a family responsibility."

The senator said the hearing would also examine allegations that some federal employees ignored or punished whistleblowers who attempted to expose fraud within government programs.

"We've got so many fraudsters out there that know this system," Ernst said. "They are finding those loopholes and ways of exploiting others. They are committing fraud against the federal government. They are taking taxpayer dollars."

Ernst praised Rosiak's investigative reporting and said additional whistleblowers from Minnesota would testify before the Senate panel about alleged retaliation for raising concerns about fraud.

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