House Democrat Tells Scott Jennings, Medicaid Recipients ‘Are Working Much Harder Than You Are’
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) went at it with CNN commentator Scott Jennings on Wednesday over the latter’s defense of Medicaid work requirements.
In their massive spending bill last week, Republicans cut Medicaid – the government healthcare program for lower-income and disabled Americans – by about $1 trillion. According to the Congressional Budget Office, more than 10 million Medicaid recipients are expected to lose coverage in the next decade. Scores of hospitals – particularly those in rural areas – are heavily dependent on patients who receive Medicaid, which has prompted fears that many rural hospitals in already underserved areas will shutter.
On Wednesday’s CNN NewsNight, Torres took issue with Republican claims that the Medicaid cuts will only target fraud and abuse. He noted that many Medicaid enrollees are caregivers for their loved ones and are unable to work another job.
“If the bill surgically targets fraud, waste, and abuse, then why would it be necessary to set up a $50 billion fund for rural hospitals?” the lawmaker asked. “Something does not add up here.”
Jennings responded by defending the bill’s work requirements for Medicaid.
“Again, according to the CBO, which you deny the existence of, apparently,” Jennings said. “Almost five million people, who choose not to work, would be–”
“That is false,” Torres interrupted. “That is like a figment of your imagination.”
“It’s literally right here,” Jennings protested, holding up his phone.
“The percentage of people who choose not to work is less than one percent of all enrollees,” Torres said.
“It’s not a percentage,” Jennings said. “I’m giving you the numbers. It’s 4.8 million.”
“You’re misrepresenting the nature of that population,” the congressman insisted.
“Republicans want to encourage people to work,” Jennings replied. “You want to encourage people to be government-dependent.”
“The caregivers are working much harder than you are,” Torres shot back, right before the show went to commercial.
Watch above via CNN.
