Washington, D.C. – For weeks, Republicans in Congress have twisted themselves into knots trying to deny that they’re cutting Medicaid. It was a lie then, and it’s a lie now – as confirmed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Finallly, Republicans themselves are admitting the truth: their plan includes the House instructions which force hundreds of billions in cuts to Medicaid, threatening coverage for nearly 80 million Americans.
Senator Josh Hawley:
- Axios: “I don’t love the Medicaid language that’s in there”
- Punchbowl: “The House instructions are still there. We were told we wouldn’t vote on those, but we are voting on those.”
- Business Insider: “Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), on whether Republicans need to do a better job counter-messaging Democrats on cuts to social services: ‘Well, I mean, they need to do a better job of not cutting Medicaid.’”
Senator Lisa Murkowksi:
- Axios: “The House provisions that would ultimately lead to significant cuts in Medicaid are something that won’t work for me and Alaska.”
- Semafor: “Sen. Murkowski … has issues with the House instructions being included (Medicaid)”
Broad & Bipartisan Opposition to Medicaid Cuts:
Murkowski and Hawley are not alone. Most Americans oppose cutting programs like Medicaid to fund tax breaks for the wealthy, including 71% of Trump voters. That’s why so many of their fellow Republicans have warned about the harms and political consequences of these extreme cuts:
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- Steve Bannon: “Medicaid, you got to be careful, because a lot of MAGA’s on Medicaid. I’m telling you, if you don’t think so, you are deeeeeead wrong. Medicaid is going to be a complicated one. Just can’t take a meat ax to it[.]”
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- White House Official: “If we renew tax cuts for the rich paid for by throwing people off Medicaid, we’re gonna get f–king slaughtered.”
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- Sen. Susan Collins: “Medicaid is a critically important program for Maine’s health care system and a vital resource for many seniors, low-income families and disabled patients, as well as for the providers who care for them. I’m committed to protecting Mainers who need access to Medicaid[.]”
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- Sen. Tommy Tuberville: “My state of Alabama, it would really decimate, you know – 3 out of 5 kids in our state are on Medicaid. It’ll be a tough situation. We’ve got to find our way around it.”
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- Sen. Jim Justice: “From the standpoint of Medicaid, West Virginia, you know, has a gigantic participation and really and truly, we have concerns, and we’re going to have to watch as this thing filters all the way through and everything[.]”
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- Sen. Thom Tillis: “If you just do it cold turkey, there’s going to be a lot of unintended consequences that our members need to think through, whether it’s a red state or blue state.”
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- Rep. Hal Rogers: “Across my 33 counties in southern and eastern Kentucky, approximately half of my constituents receive Medicaid benefits. I have no intention of gutting Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security.”
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- Rep. Derrick Van Orden: “Millions of Americans depend on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and I will have no part in cutting these programs for the folks that are legally entitled to them.”
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- Rep. Jeff Van Drew: “Medicaid isn’t just something for people who don’t want to work or on welfare. Seventy-million people in this country get their health care through Medicaid now” and: “I don’t want to take away people’s health care.”
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- Rep. David Valadao: “I’ve heard from countless constituents who tell me the only way they can afford health care is through programs like Medicaid. And I will not support a final reconciliation bill that risks leaving them behind.”
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