Senator Tom Tillis (R-N.C.) expressed strong criticism on Sunday regarding the Senate’s version of the President’s substantial spending bill, stating it “betrays the promise” made by the President not to impede Medicaid benefits.
After voting against the bill during a crucial procedural vote on Saturday, Tillis announced he would not seek re-election and delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor about the bill’s implications, emphasizing his concern over significant cuts to Medicaid. He made it clear that he would withhold his vote unless these issues were addressed.
“What will I tell 663,000 individuals in a couple of years if President Trump turns his back on Medicaid and defaults on his promise? I feel like I’m communicating with someone in the White House, as if the funds simply won’t be there anymore… I can’t support a bill that breaks that promise,” he remarked.
Tillis mentioned that he gathered various estimates regarding the impact of provider tax provisions and shared them with experts at the White House.
He implored the President directly, saying that his advisors may not have fully communicated the potential consequences for Medicaid compensation if the bill, as it stands, is passed.
“At this point, Republicans are making a serious error by turning their backs on healthcare promises,” Tillis stated. “It’s clear that this bill, in its current state, would violate the very commitments made by Donald J. Trump in the Oval Office.”
“I’m referring to the healthcare experts within the White House, not those who are giving him misguided advice about eliminating waste and fraud,” he continued, criticizing the lack of awareness about the impending elimination of certain government programs associated with provider tax.
Tillis accused the Senate GOP of hastily trying to fulfill Trump’s July 4 deadline without considering the bill’s effects on the state. He expressed his support for the proposed House version of Medicaid, lamenting his party’s reluctance to entertain alternatives.
“I’m informing the President that he’s being misled,” Tillis asserted. “Backing the Senate version will adversely affect those eligible for Medicaid.”
“I value the reforms proposed in this bill. They are indeed important, and I appreciate the leadership from the House,” he added.
“Honestly, I enjoy working on the home front, so when I support the House version, I won’t need to deliver this speech. A colleague from North Carolina reassured me about that,” he shared.
Tillis concluded his remarks by reiterating his intent to take a firm stance on the bill.
“We owe it to the American public, and I owe it to the people of North Carolina. I will not cast a positive vote until it’s clear we’ve done our due diligence. We need to ensure we’re upholding our commitments. Until then, I will withhold my vote,” he emphasized.
In response, Trump criticized Tillis for opposing the bill and hinted at a significant challenge for the senator in the coming election.
