- A group of 12 moderate House Republicans reaffirmed they are against any potential Medicaid cuts in a legislative package tied to President Donald Trump’s agenda. Their opposition is enough to derail any potential bill that includes Medicaid cuts in the House.
- The lawmakers sent a formal letter to House leadership outlining their position.
- Republican leadership said Medicaid benefits will not be cut in the budget, but that the plan aims to eliminate fraud and prevent those who do not qualify from receiving benefits.
Full Story
A group of moderate House Republicans warned GOP leadership that they will not support a broad legislative package if it includes cuts to Medicaid benefits.
Twelve Republicans from competitive districts — enough to block the bill given the House GOP’s slim majority — sent a letter Monday, April 14 to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.; Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.; Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn.; and Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie, R-Ky.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
The lawmakers stated they “cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.”
Reps. David Valadao, R-Calif. and Don Bacon, R-Neb, led the group behind the letter. Punchbowl News first reported on the note.
GOP still crafting reconciliation bill
The warning came as congressional Republicans began drafting a reconciliation package including Trump’s 2017 tax cut extensions, border security funding and other items central to the president’s policy platform. Last week, the House of Representatives approved a budget resolution framework for the bill.
Moderate Republicans expressed concerns that proposed funding cuts in the package could include Medicaid benefits critical to their constituents.
Democrats suggest Medicaid cuts are inevitable
The budget blueprint does not explicitly mention Medicaid or Medicare. However, it assigns the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut the deficit by at least $880 billion over 10 years. That committee oversees Medicaid and Medicare programs.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Medicaid accounts for 93% — or $8.2 trillion — of the $8.8 trillion in spending under the committee’s jurisdiction. Without cuts to Medicaid or Medicare, the committee controls only $581 billion in spending — short of the $880 billion reduction goal.
Top Republicans call for fraud reductions, not benefits
Republican leaders said they intend to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse within Medicaid and potentially introduce work requirements for non-disabled adults. While lawmakers who signed the letter expressed support for some Medicaid reforms, they emphasized their opposition to any coverage reductions.
“We support targeted reforms to improve program integrity, reduce improper payments and modernize delivery systems to fix flaws in the program that divert resources away from children, seniors, individuals with disabilities and pregnant women — those who the program was intended to help. However, we cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.”
Letter to House Republican leadership
Partisan divide over talks of Medicaid cuts
Democrats argued the Congressional Budget Office’s report signaled inevitable Medicaid cuts.
“It’s going to be devastating for families across this country. There is no way that they can get to the cuts they want without deep, deep cuts to the Medicaid program.”
Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., told MSNBC
“Nobody wants these savage cuts to Medicaid. It will decimate health care for so many people.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told MSNBC
While discussions surrounding Medicaid have become a focal point around the budget proposal, top Republicans say cuts to Medicaid benefits have never been part of their talks in drafting the package.
“No one has talked about cutting one benefit in Medicaid. The estimate is $51 billion a year in Medicaid is lost to fraud. That’s unconscionable.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson R-La., told Fox News
“I have said it so many times. This will not be – read my lips – we’re not going to touch it. We are going to look for fraud.”
President Donald Trump, while taking questions from reporters
As lawmakers gave contrasting views of the budget proposal and what role Medicaid will play in spending cuts, the media also covered the story under a partisan lens. This week’s episode of Bias Breakdown covered this topic. You can find the episode here.
