U.S. House Votes on Bill Impacting Medicaid During his meeting with GOP holdouts, Trump had to be informed that his budget bill did indeed kick Americans off Medicaid, according to NOTUS. “But we’re touching Medicaid in this bill,” one member reportedly responded to Trump. Rep. Jamie Raskin joins to discuss.
U.S. House Votes on Bill Impacting Medicaid and SNAP, Sparking Outrage Over Health and Welfare Cuts
In a chaotic and deeply polarizing session, the U.S. House of Representatives advanced a sweeping budget bill that would result in devastating cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), potentially stripping health care from 17 million Americans and eliminating food aid for millions more.
Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, a ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, sharply condemned the legislation on the House floor, delivering a blistering satirical “preamble” to the bill. “We, the billionaires, in our king,” he declared, “in order to deform and sicken our union… do hereby instruct the Republicans in Congress to strip 17 million people of their health care.
The bill is being pushed through by House Republicans with little transparency or debate. Despite the massive implications for millions of Americans, lawmakers were only given one hour—30 minutes per side—to debate the entire bill, prompting sharp criticism from Democrats who accused the GOP of trying to ram through a deeply unpopular measure under cover of procedural chaos.
Three distinct factions within the Republican Party are reportedly holding up final passage of the bill. The first group is composed of fiscal conservatives concerned the bill will explode the national debt, adding an estimated $3.5 to $4 trillion. A second group fears political fallout from gutting Medicaid and nutrition programs, especially in swing districts with high numbers of recipients. A third group appears to be holding out for concessions from former President Donald Trump, attempting to leverage their votes for political favors or benefits to their districts.
Ironically, Trump himself reportedly warned Republicans behind closed doors to stay away from cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security if they want to win elections. According to sources with knowledge of the meeting, one GOP member pointed out that the bill does, in fact, slash Medicaid—Trump’s response remains unknown. The contradiction has sparked confusion and speculation over whether the former president understands the bill’s content or is strategically distancing himself from its consequences.
Raskin expressed deep concern that Trump might not comprehend the full scope of the legislation. “There’s a lot of discussion on the floor about whether or not Trump really understands what’s in this bill,” Raskin said. “He might already be trying to distance himself from a bill he knows will be a nightmare, only to blame others later.”
The Congressman also pointed to a growing constitutional crisis surrounding executive overreach. Under the Trump administration, spending directives passed by Congress have increasingly been treated as suggestions rather than law. Democrats argue that the executive branch is now selectively enforcing or ignoring funding mandates, effectively sabotaging legislation they fought hard to pass.
“We are acting like our power is purely advisory,” said Raskin. “But Congress holds the purse strings. It is a core power under Article I of the Constitution. If the president can just redirect or impound funds, we’re no longer in a representative democracy—we’re veering toward authoritarian rule.”
The political consequences for GOP lawmakers, especially those in swing districts, could be severe. Representatives like Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, whose district contains numerous Medicaid recipients and rural hospitals, are under pressure to explain their votes to constituents who may soon lose vital services.
As the bill moves toward a final vote, the public backlash is intensifying. Critics argue that rather than reducing the deficit, the legislation will increase the national debt by trillions—all while redistributing wealth upward. The cuts to health care and nutrition assistance appear designed not to serve the public interest, but to bankroll tax breaks and benefits for the ultra-wealthy and corporate interests that dominate the Republican donor base.
“The pain will start immediately,” warned Raskin. “This bill is class warfare in disguise. And make no mistake—authoritarianism always begins with the rich waging war on the poor.”
With the fate of the bill still uncertain, its passage or failure could prove to be a defining moment for the current Congress and the 2024 election cycle.