Houseways and Marnes Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said on Sunday that he “doesn’t want” a “one big, beautiful bill” that covers the agenda that “will become a healthcare bill.”
“Medicaid… it’s all under the Energy and Commerce Committee, not the way or the way,” Smith said when asked about cuts to Medicaid via the “Hill Sunday” bill by News Nation’s Chris Starwald.
“But I’ll say the president is transparent, Chris won’t allow him to not cut personal profits,” he added. “He doesn’t want this to become a healthcare bill, an economic bill that secures borders and unleashes US energy.”
The vulnerable and moderate House Republicans have warned House Republican leaders that they will not support a bill that encompasses the president’s agenda if they cut Medicaid benefits.
Recently, 12 Republican members of the House of Representatives have sent letters debating the boundaries to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Leader Steve Scullies (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), and Energy and Commerce Speaker Brett Gutley (R-KY).
“We cannot and do not support the final settlement bill, which includes reducing Medicaid compensation for vulnerable groups,” the lawmaker said in the letter.
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives cleared the budget resolution framework for the agenda bill. This directed the House Energy and Commerce Committee to find $880 billion in spending cuts over the next decade.
