Dems use Medicaid anxiety in bid to take down GOP anti-government shutdown plan
House Democrats are accusing Republicans of attempting to dismantle federal health care programs with their proposal to avert a partial government shutdown. The bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), is set for a House vote on Tuesday and must pass the Senate and be signed by President Donald Trump by the end of Friday to prevent federal programs from shutting down and thousands of employees from being furloughed.
President Trump has called on all Republican lawmakers to support the bill, but Democrats have launched a fierce opposition campaign against it. This is a departure from the usual political tradition where liberal lawmakers would vote in large numbers to avoid a government shutdown.
Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, and House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, have criticized the CR for its potential harm to funds for Medicare and Medicaid. They released a joint statement denouncing the bill for cutting healthcare, nutritional assistance, and veterans benefits, while failing to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
In response, a senior House GOP aide accused House Democrats of intentionally misleading the public, claiming that the Democrats were against the bill before even seeing the text. President Trump, on the other hand, has stated that he does not want Congress to touch Medicaid but is open to cutting waste, fraud, and abuse.
The bill does not address impending payment cuts for doctors treating Medicare patients, which has raised concerns among groups like the American Medical Association. Despite this, the legislation is expected to receive some Democratic votes, particularly from lawmakers in competitive districts who want to avoid being blamed for a government shutdown.
The bill, which maintains government spending at fiscal year 2024 levels until the start of fiscal year 2026, includes an additional $8 billion in defense spending and cuts to non-defense discretionary spending by approximately $13 billion. It also includes funds to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
Overall, the bill allows Republican leaders to claim a victory by avoiding significant government spending increases. Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, is leading coverage of the House of Representatives and can be followed on Twitter at @liz_elkind. For any tips or inquiries, contact elizabeth.elkind@fox.com.
