Brett Guthrie

The 12 Republicans say they come from districts with a significant Medicaid population and that the entitlement program should not be on the chopping block.

A dozen swing-district and centrist House Republicans are warning Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that they won't vote for a budget reconciliation package that cuts Medicaid too deeply.Why it matters: It puts Johnson in a vise as members of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus demand steep cuts to the health program for low-income individuals.The GOP's clash over how much to offset their planned $4 trillion in tax cuts was on full display last week as the Freedom Caucus rebelled over a Senate budget measure that mandated only $4 billion in cuts.The House had initially passed a budget resolution that would require $1.5 trillion in cuts — and would likely reduce Medicaid funding.What they're saying: The 12 lawmakers wrote in a letter to Johnson and other GOP leaders that many of them represent "districts with high rates of constituents who depend on Medicaid.""Balancing the federal budget must not come at the expense of ... their health and economic security," they said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Axios. The lawmakers issued an ultimatum: "We cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations."Zoom in: The letter was signed by Reps. David Valadao (R-Calif.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), Young Kim (R-Calif.), Robert Wittman (R-Va.), Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) and Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.).Spokespeople for Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) did not immediately respond to requests for comment.A spokesperson for House Energy and Commerce Committee chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), who was also addressed in the letter, also did not respond to a request for comment.Between the lines: While they are pushing against what they see as overly zealous benefit cuts, these members aren't ruling out some Medicaid reforms as a way of paying for tax cuts.LaLota told Axios he is "committed to responsible, compassionate Medicaid reforms that strengthen the program for Americans who truly need it." "These reforms will prioritize work requirements for able-bodied adults, ensure benefits go only to legal residents, and increase eligibility checks from once every 12 months to every 6 months to help prevent fraud and abuse," he said.

Vulnerable and moderate House Republicans are warning House GOP leaders that they will not support the “one big beautiful bill” encompassing President Trump’s legislative agenda if it includes cuts to Medicaid benefits. Twelve House Republicans in competitive districts — more than enough in the House GOP's razor-thin majority to keep the bill from passing — [...]

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, speaks on Wedneday outside the Department of the Health and Human Services after requesting a meeting with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Also appearing are, from left, Reps. Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., Kathy Castor, D-Fla., Troy Carter, D-La., Marc Veasey, D-Texas, Lori Trahan, D-Mass., Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., and Nanette Barragán, D-Calif.

Supporters see the regulation rollback as a boon to restaurants, pharmacies, convenience stores, and more.

This message comes as Congress returns from a week-long recess.

Republicans say they're only after fraud and inefficiencies. Democrats say the GOP aims to cut benefits for the most vulnerable.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s endorsement of the House budget resolution as his preferred path to pass an extension of his 2017 tax cuts, border security funding and other parts of his agenda would likely require deep cuts to Medicaid, even though he has vowed not to “touch” the program, magnifying a divide among Republicans on overhauling the program.

WASHINGTON — In their quest to pay for President Donald Trump’s policy priorities, Republicans are eyeing Medicaid, the largest health insurance program for more than 70 million low-income Americans, as a program ripe for cuts. But they face obstacles that could block any sort of overhaul to the nearly 60-year-old joint state and federal program.

House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie talks with reporters after a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the Capitol on Feb. 5.

THIS WEEK’S DOSE118th Congress Continues to Grapple with Contentious CR. With the collapse of Republican support for the negotiated continuing resolution (CR) package, as of the time of publication on Friday at 3:00 PM EST, Congress is still grappling with how to extend government funding into the new year. At a minimum, we think any final deal will at least provide a short-term extension to a number of expiring health programs.House Health Committees Select New Republican Members. Republicans identified new committee members, while House Democrats have yet to name new members for the 119th Congress.House Energy & Commerce Committee Announces New Health Subcommittee Chair. Incoming Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) announced today that Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) will be the Health Subcommittee Chair.CBO Details Options to Reduce Federal Deficit. A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report highlights options for Congress to consider to reduce mandatory and discretionary spending.... Read the complete article here...© 2024 McDermott Will & Emery

House Republican leaders on Thursday choose Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) to lead the House Financial Services Committee in the 119th Congress, as it completes its selections for committee chairs. Hill was selected to lead the Financial Services panel, over Reps. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), according to two sources in [...]

When President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January, he will face a long-term care crisis marked by understaffed nursing homes, workforce shortages and care that is unaffordable and inaccessible for millions of people.

Elections bring significant change, especially in Presidential election years. During the 76-day period between Election Day and Inauguration Day, President-elect Trump and his transition team are busy selecting people to serve in his Administration. Congress has even less time, only 59 days from the election until the 119th Congress convenes January 3, 2025, at noon. A previous post looked at what Congress may do during the lame duck period. This post looks at who will lead on environmental policy in the Trump Administration and in Congress beginning in January 2025, and identifies an important, under-the-radar issue that the next Congress must address — the expiration of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) fees on September 30, 2026.In what was viewed as a surprising announcement, President-elect Trump on November 11, 2024, named former Representative Lee Zeldin (R-NY) as his nominee to be Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The selection of Zeldin was... Read the complete article here...©2024 Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chair Richard Hudson (N.C.) is seeking a second term as head of the House GOP’s campaign arm, ending speculation about his next move and setting the House GOP up to put its stamp of approval on its current leadership team for the next Congress. His decision comes as House Republicans [...]

Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, attends a campaign rally in Holland, Ohio, on Oct. 26.

WASHINGTON -- With Donald Trump heading back to the White House and the Senate heading into GOP hands, Republicans are poised to seize control of tech policy. The extent of that control still depends on the House, where results were still trickling in as of Wednesday morning. But Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who won reelection, is expected to become chairman of the Commerce, Science and ...

Donald Trump on Saturday posted what was supposed to be an update on his health after he was shot in the ear, but political analysts and other onlookers weren't impressed.Trump posted the letter, which you can read here, on Truth Social. But it was penned by Trump's former White House doctor Ronny Jackson, who now serves as a Republican Texas lawmaker, who has been accused of handing out drugs freely and being drunk and doped up on Ambien on the job.Jackson has also previously been criticized for his hyper-partisan statements against the current president, Joe Biden.ALSO READ: Milwaukee girded for massive convention protests. But they got something else.The internet reacted poorly to the letter.Legal analyst Marcy Wheeler, of EmptyWheel, called Jackson "a conspiracy theorist who covered up Trump's near-lethal COVID and who turned the White House into a pill mill.""This is worth as much as toilet paper," the analyst added. "Love that self-imagined journalists are giving this as much credence as Trump’s propagandists."Allison Gill, a veteran and comedian better known as Mueller, She Wrote, also chimed in."Oh. Well if the pill mill guy who was demoted by the Navy says so," she wrote on Saturday.Journalist Yashar Ali noted that the letter was "signed by Dr. Ronny Jackson of all people."Commentator Brian Tyler Cohen noted the key words, as well."Operative words: 'from Ronny Jackson.'"Brett Meiselas wrote, "Ronny Jackson putting this out is a quick way to get no one to believe anything it says."According to The Shallow State, Jackson is "a sycophant and a quack.""Among those I'd rather take medical advice from include Dr. Dre, Dr. J, Doc Severinson, Dr. Hook, Dr. Suess, Dr. Strangelove, Dr. Scholls, Dr. Pepper, Doctor Who, Dr. Demento, Doctor Detroit, Docusign, and Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman," the account wrote Saturday.