A raucous debate ensued on Capitol Hill May 13 afternoon, as members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee weighed in on proposed legislation that would strip $800 billion from the Medicaid budget.
The committee is tasked with finding spending cuts which will be added to an omnibus budget reconciliation bill expected to be voted on the House floor early next week. Several House committees are scrambling to find a total of $1.5 trillion in budget cuts, to offset President Donald Trump’s plan of $3.8 trillion in tax breaks over the next 10 years. Critics of Trump’s tax cuts say the plan would increase the federal deficit by $5.7 trillion over the next decade and largely benefit only the wealthy.
In his opening remarks, Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, said his task was to “cut out waste, fraud, and abuse.”
“Medicaid was created to support people who cannot otherwise support themselves. We are strengthening Medicaid for people who need it the most,” he said, noting that almost 5 million “able-bodied people” were choosing not to work, but still availing of Medicaid benefits. Guthrie also noted that 1.4 million undocumented immigrants receive Medicaid.
Vital Safety Net
But Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, D-New Jersey stated that if the cuts go through, 15 million people will lose health care coverage by the end of the year. “Medicaid is a lifesaving program for millions of Americans. Everything Republicans are doing right now is to get deserving people kicked off the program,” he said.
More than 78 million people, including children, seniors, and the disabled, currently get healthcare coverage via Medicaid. The proposed legislation adds work requirements for non-elderly adults, who would be forced to work at least 80 hours a month to be eligible for Medicaid coverage. Proof of employment would have to be verified every 6 months, placing additional bureaucratic and administrative costs on states. More than 2/3 of non-elderly adults receiving Medicaid already work full or part-time.
The committee chamber was filled with people voicing their opposition to the cuts. More than 25 people — at least 3 in wheelchairs — were escorted out of the chamber by Capitol police, as first reported by Newsweek. Pallone asked police not to arrest those they had thrown out, fearing for their health.
Children with Cancer
Democrats told heart-wrenching stories and held up photos of residents in their districts who would be impacted by the cuts. “With this bill, Republicans are choosing to rip away critical health care from vulnerable people in favor of tax cuts for wealthy people who don’t need them,” said Rep. Doris Matsui, D-California.
Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Florida, noted that 1 out of 3 children who are diagnosed with cancer get treatment and services through Medicaid. “These kids will be less likely to survive if Medicaid is cut. Do Elon Musk and his crony billionaires need more money in their bank accounts while children die of cancer,” she queried.
Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-New York, shared the story of David, an elderly man suffering from congestive heart failure. “Without Medicaid, David will have no ability to access medical care. He will die.”
Taxing the Poor
”This is a choice that disproportionately targets low-income communities, and communities of color. This is cruelty,” said Clarke, rebuking her Republican colleagues.
Rep. Darren Soto, D-Florida, proclaimed: “It’s Ebenezer Scrooge day at the Capitol.” He and other Democrats noted that money was being taken from the poor to support the wealthy. Rep. Troy Carter, D-Louisiana, dubbed the proposal a “reverse Robin Hood.”
‘Scare Tactics’
But Republican committee members accused Democrats of engaging in scare tactics. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Alabama, told the audience gathered in the chambers: “You’re not going to lose your Medicaid. People who are eligible for Medicaid will continue to get their Medicaid.”
Palmer noted a study that pointed to $567 billion in improper payments via Medicaid over the past decade. The study was conducted by the Economic Policy Innovation Center, a conservative think tank.
”Not a single person in those posters is going to be impacted by these cuts,” said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Florida. She stated there were 7.6 million people currently fraudulently receiving Medicaid. “We want to protect disabled people, but we should not be protecting people who choose not to work,” she said.
The committee was expected to convene again the following day.
