GOP Congressman Slips Up by Talking About ‘Medicaid Cuts, Uh, Medicaid Reforms, I Should Say’
Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) briefly admitted that House Republicans plan to cut Medicaid, which Republicans have insisted they are not actually doing.
Starting with President Donald Trump, GOP leaders have repeatedly stated they will not cut Medicaid, the federal healthcare program for low-income and disabled Americans. But in their spending bill, Republicans are set to implement work requirements and frequent eligibility checks for Medicaid enrollees. It would also require some recipients to pay for some of their care if they make more than $15,650 a year. If the bill is enacted into law, an estimated 10.3 million Americans would lose Medicaid coverage.
Smith appeared on Thursday’s edition of The Will Cain Show on Fox News, where the host noted that the bill is currently in limbo, largely over the state and local tax deduction (SALT), which is currently capped at $10,000. That means that taxpayers can write off up to $10,000 a year when filing their federal tax returns. The Republicans’ bill would raise the cap to $30,000. But a handful of House Republicans in wealthier districts – particularly in high-tax states like California and New York – have balked at the figure and are demanding the cap be even higher.
“The House Ways and Means Committee, in charge of taxes, would like to see it raised to $30,000,” Will Cain noted. “That’s creating some rift among some blue state Republicans who want it to be an even larger, bigger deduction and conservatives who want to Medicaid cuts to hit sooner.”
Cain then welcomed Smith, who chairs Ways and Means, to the program and asked, “Is SALT the biggest sticking point?”
“I would say that SALT is one of those items we have to thread,” Smith replied. “And then you can look at Medicaid cuts, uh, Medicaid reforms, I should say. Um, these are all things that were right in the middle. And what we passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee yesterday, I believe, is a good balance.”
Watch above via Fox News.
