BAYHAM: Republicans Should Support President Trump’s Promise to “Not Touch” Medicaid

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution this week to advance Republicans’ and President Trump’s budget framework. The vote clears the way for lawmakers to begin crafting the text of “one big, beautiful” bill.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) deserve special recognition for their leadership toward conservative priorities and fiscal discipline. The American people are counting on Congress to move the ball for President Trump’s agenda: securing our borders, strengthening America’s energy independence, keeping more of taxpayers’ hard-earned money in their own pockets, and reining in wasteful government spending.

However, as with any major deal in Washington, the devil is in the details. And Speaker Johnson and Republican leaders must very carefully consider one of the key debates surrounding this plan — how much funding to wring out of the popular cornerstone program Medicaid.

Voters sent a clear message when they voted in President Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress last fall. Ordinary families are hurting from out-of-control inflation, high interest rates, and policies that put ideological agendas ahead of kitchen-table issues. They want leadership that will bring down the costs of necessary goods and services—not put them further out of reach.

Unfortunately, in its current form, Congress’ plan—which proposes to reduce federal Medicaid funding by as much as $880 billion—could make healthcare coverage more expensive and less accessible for millions of Louisianans. And the very same individuals and families who are already struggling the most to dig out from underneath President Biden’s failed policies could bear the worst of it — low-income earners, seniors, expectant mothers, and families with children. 

Medicaid is the nation’s largest public insurer. About 72 million U.S. adults are enrolled in the program, and more than seven million children get coverage through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). More than 1.4 million Louisianans—about one in five residents—are insured by Medicaid. Broken down by demographics, the numbers are even more staggering: Nearly three in five children with special needs, three quarters of nursing home residents, and one third of rural Louisianans rely on Medicaid for their healthcare coverage.    

Medicaid has been good to Louisiana. An independent analysis commissioned by Governor Landry found Medicaid expansion has saved our state $317 million, supported $3.57 billion in economic activity, and created over 19,000 jobs. Nearly half a million residents who otherwise may not have, have received preventative care and mental health services.  

President Trump knows what the American people want and need. And he knows how important Medicaid coverage is. Just this week he said again: “We’re not going to touch it.” It’s a promise he has made repeatedly, and by all accounts intends to keep. Congress could invite an unwanted and unnecessary intraparty fight with President Trump and his blue-collar base if lawmakers don’t tap the brakes and tread carefully.     

The Speaker and his colleagues, I believe, understand those truths—both the importance of Medicaid and the political drain that sharp, sweeping cutbacks could bring. Mr. Johnson has said repeatedly that Republicans’ focus is on eliminating fraud and abuse—a cause most voters support—not on cutting basic benefits. GOP leaders, aware of how popular and widely utilized the program is, have begun to identifyalternative saving options, including tariff revenues and rolling back ineffective ‘green’ giveaways.    

Americans support President Trump’s agenda, and, like him, they know it shouldn’t come at the expense of their healthcare coverage. More than seven in ten Trump supporters say cutting Medicaid would be “unacceptable,” as do more than 80% of all voters.

Louisianans should not have to choose between putting food on the table and their healthcare coverage, and Republicans get that. We are lucky to have sensible leaders in the White House and Congress again, who will take the time to fully consider this weighty issue and do what’s right for working-class families. I encourage Speaker Johnson and all our members of Congress to follow the President’s lead and work to protect Medicaid.