Moderate Republicans Who Complained About Medicaid Cuts Voted To Advance Them Anyway

The lawmakers said the House budget is merely symbolic even though it lays the groundwork for big policy changes.

WASHINGTON — All of the moderate House Republicans who complained last week about Medicaid cuts in the House Republican budget voted for the budget anyway on Tuesday.

If they had balked at the budget, the moderates could easily have blocked it; their capitulation helped House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and President Donald Trump make significant progress on what could become the major domestic policy achievement of Trump’s second term.

The budget resolution calls for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, with the foregone revenue partially replaced by spending cuts, including to programs like Medicaid, food assistance and Pell grants. The resolution itself doesn’t make the cuts however, instead, it tells confessional committees to come up with specific dollar amounts in savings from programs under their jurisdiction.

The Republicans who complained about the Medicaid cuts did not vow to vote against the budget, instead leaving their position uncertain until shortly before Tuesday’s roll call. In statements defending their votes, they pointed to the preliminary nature of the resolution. Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) went a step further, saying he would not necessarily support the final legislation, known as a “budget reconciliation” bill, despite his vote for the initial outline.

“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,” Valadao said Tuesday in remarks on the House floor. “Medicaid cuts are deeply unpopular with the American families who sent us here to deliver on President Trump’s agenda.”