Virginia Republican gubernatorial hopeful Winsome Earle-Sears downplayed possible cuts to health care caused by President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” Monday evening in a rare face-off with her rival, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, ahead of this fall’s statewide elections.

Speaking at a virtual forum focused on Virginians with disabilities, Earle-Sears said the new law’s negative impacts on patients and hospitals were overstated and argued the state had sufficient reserves to weather any problems.

“We’re not trying to make anyone’s life any harder,” the former Marine and business owner said. Earle-Sears currently serves as the state’s lieutenant governor.

Spanberger, a former CIA intelligence officer and Congressional representative, called the bill “catastrophic” and accused the

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