There was little sympathy for the congressman’s words among the 100 or so protesters who turned out for the news conference held at the bottom of the building’s west steps.

Over shouting and chants, U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans stood in front of the state Capitol on Thursday and defended his support for President Trump's spending bill, touting efforts to extend tax breaks and purge waste from safety-net programs like Medicaid.

Trump's controversial bill passed the House and moves to the Senate, sparking protests over tax cuts and Medicaid restrictions.

Reps. Gabe Evans and Lauren Boebert faced press and protesters to discuss their support of the Republican package of tax and benefit cuts.

Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health, stands with Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) and Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) as they address the potentially harmful consequences of cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other safety-net programs in the recent House-passed budget reconciliation bill on Wednesday in Levittown. Credit: Newsday/Howard Schnapp

Pa. Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, left, said he would oppose the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill" passed by the GOP-controlled House while GOP Sen. Dave McCormick seemed poised to support it. (AP Photo/Marc Levy, File) (AP Photos/J. Scott Applewhite (Fetterman) and Marc Levy (McCormick))

The Republican-authored bill will cost the state's health care system $1.75 billion and take away health care for 250,000 people, the Healey administration said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson shepherded through Congress President Trump's spending bill, which includes Medicaid work requirements.

Multiple independent analyses say the recently passed House reconciliation bill  -- even with its deep spending cuts in some areas -- would add trillions of dollars to the federal deficit over 10 years.