Recent changes to Medicaid and those eligible created controversy in Washington.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recently took to the Senate floor to accuse Republicans of undermining the Medicaid system, the most recent attack in the wake of GOP-backed reforms to Medicaid eligibility in the Big, Beautiful Bill. The move comes after weeks of back-and-forth between President Trump and Sen. Schumer, with the former accusing the New York Democrat of “extortion tactics” relating to delays of confirmation votes for Republican nominees. During his speech on the floor, Schumer relaunched his party’s criticisms of aspects of the Big, Beautiful Bill that relate to spending cuts and Medicaid reform.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) responded to Schumer’s attacks, urging his colleagues not to believe the Democrat rhetoric on a number of issues, but most specifically Medicaid. Barrasso, who was an early Senate supporter of the Big, Beautiful Bill and a staunch ally of President Trump’s, defended the bill and its Medicaid sections.
“I just heard the minority leader once again come to the United States Senate chamber and cry wolf. This time it’s about Medicaid reform,” Barrasso said on the Senate floor, referring to Schumer’s earlier speech. “Let’s be very clear: We need to strengthen Medicaid, and we did that in the bill that we just passed and was signed into law. But the minority leader once again puts fear above the facts.”
Barrasso highlighted the particular changes to Medicaid that are addressed in the bill, namely the addition of work requirements. Barrasso cited the 4.8 million able-bodied Americans currently on Medicaid but not working as evidence for the necessity of Medicaid oversight. The same section of the bill includes nearly $1.2 trillion in spending cuts but does not cut access to Medicaid for any eligible participants.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also highlighted Barrasso’s figure of 4.8 million able-bodied recipients of Medicaid, and argued that all policies proposed in the Big, Beautiful Bill are “common sense.” Democrats have labeled the spending reform and Medicaid work requirements as “cuts” to these programs, despite the fact that the figures projected by Democrats for those who will lose coverage only extends to able-bodied Americans. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) accused Republicans of lying about the contents of the Big, Beautiful Bill.
Barrasso also noted the growing number of illegal immigrants that currently receive Medicaid, and called out Democrats for their reported interest in keeping illegal immigrants in the program. Barrasso echoed past comments from President Trump and called for Democrats to stop embracing taxpayer-funded programs for illegal immigrants.
“Let me set the record straight: Medicaid is for the vulnerable. It was never meant to cover able-bodied, working-age adults who refuse to work. Nor was it meant to cover illegal immigrants, which the Democrats continue to embrace,” Barrasso continued. He cited over 1.2 million illegal immigrants that are currently eligible for Medicaid. Under the Big, Beautiful Bill, work and visa requirements will eliminate fraudulent use, an issue Republicans argue will return more money to American taxpayers.
Barrasso also cited past inconsistencies in the Democratic party for their support of work requirements in some government programs. Barrasso cited a quote from Barack Obama in 2008 where the future President said, “work must be the centerpiece of any social policy.” President Bill Clinton also supported work requirements in the 1990s. Under the Big, Beautiful Bill, Barrasso specified that no “child, no pregnant woman, no disabled person” would ever lose Medicaid coverage.
