Under pressure from millions of constituents who would be stripped of healthcare coverage under the GOP’s slash-and-burn reconciliation package, more than a dozen House Republicans claimed Tuesday that they would not back the Senate’s version of the legislation if it contains proposed cuts to the Medicaid provider tax.
“Protecting Medicaid is essential for the vulnerable constituents we were elected to represent. Therefore, we cannot support a final bill that threatens access to coverage or jeopardizes the stability of our hospitals and providers,” wrote 16 House Republicans led by Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.)—whose largely rural Central Valley district has one of the highest concentration of Medicaid recipients in the nation—in a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
“Throughout the budget process, we have consistently affirmed our commitment to ensuring that reductions in federal spending do not come at the expense of our most vulnerable constituents,” the lawmakers’ letter continues. “We write to reiterate that commitment to those we represent here in Washington.”
