Some Republicans reaffirm stance against potential Medicaid cuts

A group of moderate Republicans are reaffirming their stance against the idea of potential Medicaid cuts

saying they won't support a major legislative package if it makes cuts to health benefits for millions of Americans who need them

The letter, sent to House leadership by a dozen Republicans, reaffirms the budget proposal will not pass if Medicaid benefits are part of the GOP's target spending cuts

In a letter sent Monday to House Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders, 12 Republican lawmakers from competitive districts wrote

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

With the GOP's narrow majority, these 12 members could block any final budget package

Republicans in Congress are currently drafting a reconciliation bill that includes budgetary items, along with extensions of Trump-era tax cuts, border security funding, and a boost to defense

items under the Trump agenda. A big part of that, reining in government spending

The House recently approved a budget framework directing the Energy and Commerce Committee

to identify $880 billion in deficit reductions over 10 years. The committee oversees both

Medicaid and Medicare And the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says 93 of its jurisdictional budget is tied to Medicaid Democrats argue the spending cuts all but guarantee reductions to Medicaid services It going to be completely devastating for families across this

country and to the cost of providing health care to everyone in this country. There is no way that

they can get to the cuts they want without deep, deep cuts to the Medicaid program. They know the

The budget is highly unpopular with the American people. No one wants these savage cuts to Medicaid

It will decimate healthcare for so many people. Republican leaders insist they are not cutting benefits, but focusing on fraud and eliminating

people on the program who don't qualify. Medicaid for example, which is the thing that the Democrats are trying to frankly lie to

the American people about, no one has talked about cutting one benefit in Medicaid

The estimate is $51 billion a year and Medicaid is lost to fraud

That's unconscionable. Can you guarantee that Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security will not be touched

Yeah, I mean, I have said it so many times you shouldn't be asking me that question

Okay, this will not be read my lips. It won't be read my lips anymore

We're not going to touch it. Now we are going to look for fraud

The lawmakers who signed the letter said they do support targeted reforms

like reducing fraud, modernizing systems, and improving efficiency. But not if it means cutting coverage for the people who depend on it most

The political debate over the idea of cuts to Medicaid has also become a point of media focus

This week's episode of Bias Breakdown yzes how outlets from both sides cover this story differently

leaning into narratives that best support their political leanings. You can find this week's episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, among other platforms