A staffer in Thom Tillis’ (R-NC) Senate office is being disciplined today after showing complete disregard for a cancer survivor who called the office looking for help. WRAL, the NBC affiliate in Raleigh spoke with Bev Veals about her conversation:

When her husband was furloughed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, Veals worried about losing her health insurance, so she reached out to lawmakers for help.

“I wanted answers because the thought of having no health care and possibly getting sick with COVID is extremely frightening,” she said recently.

Veals says because of a lack of empathy she experienced in conversations with the staffer, she recorded the call.

Senator Thom Tillis staffer tells woman with cancer who doesn’t have health care that she’s out of luck.

“Just like if you want to go to the store and buy a new dress shirt, if I can’t afford that dress shirt, I don’t get to get it.” pic.twitter.com/DCZMORFHGl

— Kristen Clarke (@KristenClarkeJD) September 9, 2020

After the story was publicized, Tillis’ office issued the following statement:

“The way Mrs. Veals was talked to by a staff assistant in our Washington office was completely inappropriate and violates the code of conduct Senator Tillis has for his staff, which is why immediate disciplinary action has been taken.”

This isn't a story about a rude person in @ThomTillis's office, this is a staffer accurately describing the Republican approach to health care. Get sick? Tough luck. Vote Tillis out by supporting @CalforNC: https://t.co/oOxvDradAJ

— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) September 8, 2020