PRESSLY: Preserving Medicaid is the right type of conservatism. Here's why.

Conservatives have long — and rightly — raised the alarm about fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicaid system.

We owe it to taxpayers to ensure that every dollar is spent responsibly, and every service is delivered with integrity. But in our zeal to root out inefficiency, we must not lose sight of what Medicaid means to real people.

That’s why I want to commend the House for making the wise and compassionate choice to preserve critical Medicaid funding in the recent “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

The truth is, Louisiana’s health care system is walking a tightrope. Our hospitals — especially those in rural communities — are operating on razor-thin margins.

A one-size-fits-all approach to Medicaid cuts wouldn’t just weed out inefficiencies; it would put essential care out of reach for the very people who need it most. That includes the anxious dad trying to get their child in to see a pediatric specialist, the expecting mom who relies on regular appointments for a healthy pregnancy and the disabled young adult who depends on consistent treatment to remain out of the emergency room.

These aren’t hypothetical scenarios. They are real constituents in my district and across our state. Nearly one-third of Louisianans rely on Medicaid, while over 62% of births are paid for through Medicaid. However, when we talk about cutting Medicaid without precision, we’re not just talking about numbers on a spreadsheet — we’re talking about the lives behind those numbers.

The consequences of Medicaid cuts do not stop at a patient’s health care, however. Drastic cuts to health care budgets also create an economic ripple effect. Hospitals and health care providers are often the largest employers in our communities. Slashing Medicaid funding would mean job losses — from nurses and technicians to support staff — and a devastating blow to local economies already under strain.

Reform? Absolutely. Oversight? Without a doubt. But let’s be clear: Preserving the core of Medicaid while continuing to pursue accountability is not a compromise of conservative principles — it’s a reflection of conservative compassion. Fiscal responsibility and human responsibility are not mutually exclusive.

I applaud Speaker Mike Johnson and our Republican House for understanding the critical balance at stake and choosing a path that protects our most vulnerable citizens while still allowing us to push for greater transparency and reform.

They didn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. They showed that conservative governance can be both principled and pragmatic.

Let’s keep working together — not to dismantle the safety net, but to strengthen it where needed, and secure it for future generations. That’s the kind of conservatism our country deserves.