Latest news with #JuanCiscomani
Newsweek
03-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Republicans Vulnerable to Losing Their Seats After Voting Yes on Trump Bill
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Republicans representing districts with high Medicaid enrollment rates could face losing their seats in the 2026 midterms if they vote for Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill." Recent changes to the bill would cut roughly $1.1 trillion in health-care spending and result in 11.8 million people losing Medicaid health insurance over the next decade, according to new estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The bill also mandates that able-bodied adults ages 19 to 64—including some parents of older children—complete and report at least 80 hours per month of work, job training, volunteering, or education to keep their coverage. Nearly 80 million children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, parents and adults without dependents rely on Medicaid and the related Children's Health Insurance Program. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz (L) and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif are two of the Republicans who could lose their seats over Trump's Medicaid bill. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz (L) and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif are two of the Republicans who could lose their seats over Trump's Medicaid bill. AP Why It Matters If Republican lawmakers lose their seats in the midterms, it could tip the balance of power in Congress, which is currently controlled by the GOP in both chambers. The party has particularly low margins in the House, where Trump's bill now faces a major test after it narrowly cleared the Senate on Tuesday, thanks to Vice President JD Vance's tiebreaking vote. What To Know More than 60 House Republicans represent districts where Medicaid enrollment is higher than the national average, according to a CNN analysis of enrollment data and 2024 election results. Among these 64 GOP lawmakers, five—Representatives Nick Begich, Juan Ciscomani, Ken Calvert, Jeff Hurd, and Rob Bresnahan—won their seats last November by slim margins of five points or less. So if they back Trump's bill, they could face a serious risk of losing their seats in next year's election. All five lawmakers are up for re-election in 2026. Rob Bresnahan Bresnahan won by 1.6 percent in 2024, and 26.2 percent of his district is enrolled in Medicaid. He previously joined four other Republican members of the Congressional Hispanic Conference in signing a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson warning against cuts to Medicaid. In response to budget reconciliation negotiations, Bresnahan said, "If a bill is put in front of me that guts the benefits my neighbors rely on, I will not vote for it." He emphasized in a February 13 news release, "These benefits are promises that were made to the people of NEPA, and where I come from, people keep their word." The release noted that more than 200,000 Medicaid recipients live in the 8th Congressional District, more than a quarter of its population. Bresnahan also said in a February 26 Facebook post, "I will fight to protect working-class families in Northeastern Pennsylvania and stand with President Trump in opposing gutting Medicaid. My position on this has not and will not change." However, in an April 17 letter to House Republican leaders, Bresnahan and 11 fellow Republicans said they favor reforming Medicaid so "it is a strong and long-lasting program for years to come." They added, "However, we cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations." On May 22, Bresnahan and all of Pennsylvania's Republican House members voted for President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Bresnahan said, "Medicaid will be protected while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent prudently. During this process, I fought to protect social safety net programs from the waste, fraud, and abuse that have threatened their long-term solvency. By ensuring states are not using Medicaid dollars on illegal aliens, conducting more frequent eligibility checks, and requiring work for able-bodied recipients, we are securing Medicaid for those who truly need it." Nick Begich Begich won by 2 percent in 2024, and 33.5 percent of his district is enrolled in Medicaid. He has been a vocal supporter of the bill. Shortly after the vote, Begich said in his Washington, D.C. office, "This is a great bill for Alaska. It preserves the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, so it keeps taxes low for working Americans, working Alaskans. It also drives some accountability in some of the government programs that are safety-net programs." In a post on X, he added, "The American people are counting on Congress to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and deliver on the America First promises that will make our nation prosperous, strong, and safe again." Juan Ciscomani Ciscomani won by 2.5 percent in 2024, with 22.9 percent of the district enrolled in Medicaid. In May, he voted to approve President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," which included cuts to Medicaid services. Ciscomani also joined the letter opposing reductions in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations. Ken Calvert Calvert won by 3.4 percent in 2024, with 27.4 percent Medicaid enrollment in his district. He defended the bill, telling News Channel 3, "Medicaid is fine. We're not doing anything to Medicaid other than people that are able-bodied, men and women under the age of 65 that are in good health with no children, have 20 hour a week work requirement or 20 hours of volunteer work. That's not too much to ask to get Medicaid insurance on your behalf." He also said in a post on X, "I don't believe it's fair to ask a taxpayer who works 40 hours a week to support their family to send their tax dollars to provide Medicaid benefits for healthy working-age adults without children who refuse to work. Like most Americans, I support reasonable work requirements." Jeff Hurd Hurd won by 5 percent in 2024, and 26.3 percent of his district is enrolled in Medicaid. He joined the letter opposing Medicaid coverage reductions and voted for the bill in the House. His 3rd Congressional District has the highest rate of Medicaid recipients in Colorado. A spokesperson confirmed that Representative Hurd plans to vote "yes" on the bill, according to The Colorado Sun. What Happens Next The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed a key procedural vote in the early hours of Thursday. It remains to be seen whether Johnson can rally the necessary votes to approve the package and move it to Trump's desk, where it would be signed into law.
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Mainstreaming Women's Health in Congress with the First-Ever Women's Health Capitol Hill Day
First-ever Women's Health Capitol Hill Day includes Congressional Briefing with Experts Highlighting Gaps and Opportunities to Advance the Health of Women 'I care deeply about this issue because it is personal…Breast cancer runs rapidly in her family. My mom lost her mom when she was seven years old with two younger sisters'— Congressman Juan Ciscomani WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, May 23, 2025 / / -- On May 21st, Women's Health Advocates planned the first-ever Women's Health Capitol Hill Day that included a Congressional Briefing with U.S. Representatives Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Joyce Beatty (D-OH), hill meetings with 25 Congressional offices, and a Women's Health Month Reception with U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Emilia Sykes (D-OH). Approximately 90 national leaders from the life sciences industry and non-profits, investors, physicians, researchers and patient advocates descended on the nation's capital this week from across the country, representing half the states, such as California, Arizona, Texas, Iowa, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, and Alabama, among others. The Women's Health Advocates shared their professional expertise as physicians, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers and patient advocates during the Congressional Briefing entitled 'Sex Matters: Learn How Sex Differences Impact Medical Research, Innovation, Health Outcomes, the Economy and More,' and in conversations with Members of Congress, such as Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), and their staff. With the goal of raising awareness about women's health gaps, the sex differences that exist at the cellular level impacting how diseases and treatments impact the body, factors shaping the health of women and ways to close gaps that strengthen families and the economy, the Advocates provided powerful evidence on the need for systemic changes. The briefing kicked off with remarks by former award winning NBC correspondent turned entrepreneur following her breast cancer diagnosis, Kristen Dahlgren. 'Women's health is a $1 trillion economic opportunity. That is good for America,' said Dahlgren, who founded the Cancer Vaccine Coalition and explained that by investing in research, a shot in the arm could prevent cancer. 'I want everyone to know that these cancer vaccines could and are already saving lives.' Rep. Ciscomani followed, stating the key conditions impacting women disproportionately and differently that he is focused on include coronary artery disease, lung cancer, Alzheimer's disease and autoimmune diseases and added his direct connection to women's health. 'I care deeply about this issue because it is personal…Breast cancer runs rapidly in her family. My mom lost her mom when she was seven years old with two younger sisters,' said Rep. Ciscomani, who hosted a Women's Health Roundtable in October to address the need to advance research initiatives, expand healthcare access, and promote innovation in women's healthcare. 'Heart disease is the number one killer of women and I went across the country telling my story because that is most important. When you tell your story there is someone out there that you have no idea they too have had the same health challenge,' said Rep. Beatty, who is a stroke survivor, co-chair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition and consistently leading on the introduction of stroke legislation. Alisa Wilson, PhD, Life Sciences Managing Director for Accenture and author of Springboard Women's Health Report entitled 'Re-defining Women's Health' that was released on May 20th explained how women's health is often overlooked in healthcare in two areas. 'Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for women globally and there are more incidences of cardiovascular disease than all cancers combined and women make up 78% of the autoimmune disease patient population,' said Wilson. Her top recommendation for women is to participate in clinical trials to gather more accurate data as currently there is insufficient participation of women, and especially women of color, and studies are aggregated by sex only 50% of the time. 'Women are not little men; we have unique needs throughout the lifespan; we continue to have a gap in data because women have been historically underrepresented in clinical studies,' explained Nada Hanafi, MPH, MSc, co-founder of MedTech Strategy Advisors and former senior science advisor at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with expertise in ensuring increased accuracy in studies through enrollment in studies that are representative of disease impact in the broader population. In addition to FDA clinical trials, CMS reimbursement is shaping the health of women pointed out Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald, a Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgeon at UPMC Magee-Women's Health and author of Price and Prejudice: Reimbursement of Surgical Care on Male Versus Female Anatomies. 'Women are automatically worth less money for a hospital; that bottom line is what matters,' said Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald as she explained that after reviewing over 100 reimbursement codes, she found that essentially the same procedures are reimbursed 30% on average lower for females as compared to males—but sometimes as much as 50% lower—by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). Gaslighting and racial bias are other dynamics shaping the health of women that was shared by Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, who survived hemorrhaging after her child was born only because she pushed to call her doctor's cell phone in the very hospital where she serves as the Urgent Care Medical Director. Yet another gaslighting story that cost the life of a 17-year old girl from Pittsburgh, PA was shared by Lynn Banaszak, CEO of the Caileigh Lynn McDowell Foundation. 'Caileigh died because of the bias of the medical system when it comes to women and diagnosing what we say is causing us pain. She died because the system sees young girls as dramatic and perhaps not credible. The system assumes mental health issues in young women before exploring physical causes. The system is built to ignore the specific ways illness manifests in women differently than men,' shared Banaszak. Entrepreneurship driven by the diagnostic odyssey was another factor addressed during the briefing. 'I was a woman feeling like no matter where I went, I never could get answers from any doctor. It was always: drink more water, sleep more and have a less stressful job,' said Priyanka Jain, co-founder and CEO of Evvy as she explained why she started the company in 2021 to address the number one reason for why women visit their doctors. Since then, the company has served over 50,000 users with the first and only at-home test that includes one swab used to check for all bacteria and fungi present with metagenomics, an advanced form of sequencing. The intersection of hormones, menopause, Alzheimer's and heart health was also addressed by the panelists. 'The gaps in cardiac care for women include critical delays in symptom recognition, leading to heart attacks being more often fatal in women than men,' explained Dr. Jayne Morgan, who is a cardiologist, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Hello Heart, and on-air medical news expert. Other speakers included Linda Goler Blount, MPH (CEO, Community Catalyst), Dr. Elizabeth Garner (CEO, Sena Therapeutics and past president of the American Medical Women's Association), Vanessa Joy Walker (breast cancer and mental health patient advocate and founder of 'Living After Crisis'), Meryl Comer (Co-Founder, Us Against Alzheimer's and Vice Chair, WHAM), Piraye Beim, PhD (CEO, Celmatix Therapeutics and Chair of the Endometriosis Foundation), and Dr. Mitzi Krockover (Managing Director, Golden Seeds and Producer, Beyond the Paper Gown). Following the briefing, Women's Health Advocates broke up into teams and walked the halls of Congress to share five key priorities—all of which pertain to the budget and reconciliation, which Congress was crafting and negotiating to garner the full support of the Republicans in the House: (1) Women's Health Research Interdisciplinary Fund within NIH (2) Women's Health Innovation Program within FDA (3) Perimenopause and Menopause report on research, gaps and training resources for providers relating to mid-life women's health care within the military (4) Preservation of health research grants that study women and impact of conditions using sex-based data (5) Medicaid programs and services that enhance the health of women and their babies, such as access to care during the entire first year postpartum The day ended with a reception with remarks shared by several members of Congress and menopause expert, Dr. Sharon Malone, who is an OB-GYN, Chief Medical Advisor for Alloy Women's Health and author of 'Grown Women Talk.' Other speakers included Lauren Ruotolo, who shared how her rare disease has shaped her life and why cuts to NIH could mean an end to the rare disease study she participates in. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi shared how in the 1990s she teamed up with fellow members of the Appropriations Committee: Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and former Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) to fight for the inclusion of women in clinical studies and for $100 million for breast cancer research, as there was no significant funding at the time for this disease. 'Your mobilization, your coming to Washington, your advocating is so important because members have to hear from their own constituents. Nothing is more eloquent to a member of Congress than the voice of their own constituent,' said Pelosi. Finally, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) shared, 'Obesity, 3D mammograms, access to care, support for mothers, and paid family leave for women's well-being are some of the issues I've worked on in Congress, but nothing moves in Congress [without you]. For you to be here is critically important to advocate and educate. The voices that you bring are very important, but remember the journey of 1,000 miles begins with just one step.' Women's Health Advocates (WHA): Women's Health Advocates was founded by Liz Powell, Esq., MPH, who is the founder of G2G Consulting and has over 25 years of experience in working for and with government on policy, lobbying and grassroots mobilization. WHA is uniting people to educate government decision-makers on women's health gaps and policies and funding needed to advance the health of women. It consists of people in all 50 states covering all sectors of women's health as patients, physicians, investors, entrepreneurs, executives in business and nonprofits, and public health and policy experts. Learn more at ### Liz Powell G2G Consulting & Women's Health Advocates +1 202-445-4242 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Chicago Tribune
08-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
GOP centrists revolt against steep cuts to Medicaid and other programs in President Donald Trump's tax breaks bill
WASHINGTON — When it comes to Medicaid, Rep. Juan Ciscomani is telling fellow Republicans he won't support steep cuts that could hit thousands of residents in his Arizona district — 'my neighbors, people my kids go to school with' — who depend on it. Republican Rep. Don Bacon, who represents the liberal-leaning 'blue dot' of Omaha, Nebraska, is trying to protect several Biden-era green energy tax breaks. He's warning colleagues that 'you can't pull the rug out from under' businesses that have already sunk millions of dollars into renewable developments in Nebraska and beyond. And for Republican Rep. Nick LaLota of New York, it's simple: 'No Salt. No Deal. For Real.' He wants to revive — and bump up — what's known as the SALT deduction, which allows taxpayers to write off a portion of their state and local taxes. Capping the deduction at $10,000 hurt many of his Long Island constituents. 'Governing is a negotiation, right?' said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, another Republican who is also involved in the talks. 'I think everybody is going to have to give a little.' As GOP leaders draft President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' of some $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $1.5 trillion in spending cuts by Memorial Day, dozens of Republicans from contested congressional districts have positioned themselves at the center of the negotiating table. While it's often the most conservative members of the House Freedom Caucus driving the legislative agenda — and they are demanding as much as $2 trillion in cuts — it's the more centrist-leaning conservatives who could sink the bill. They have been hauled into meetings with Trump at the White House, some have journeyed to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, and many are huddling almost daily with House Speaker Mike Johnson. And they are not satisfied, yet. 'To get everybody politically and policy-wise on the same page is going to require more conversations,' said LaLota, who is among five Republicans pledging to withhold their support unless changes to the SALT deduction are included. Diving into the gritty details of the massive package, the GOP leaders are running into the stubborn reality that not all the ideas from their menu of potential tax breaks and spending cuts are popular with voters back home. Moreover, their work of compiling the big package is not happening in a vacuum. It comes amid growing economic unease rippling across the country as Trump has fired thousands of federal workers, including some of their own constituents, and as his trade war sparks concerns of empty store shelves and higher prices. Brendan Buck, a former adviser to an earlier House speaker, Paul Ryan, warned in an op-ed Wednesday that all the party's energy is being poured into one bill, with questionable returns. 'Many Republicans are hoping that the tax bill can blunt the economic damage caused by the Trump tariffs,' Buck wrote in The New York Times, 'but that is highly unlikely.' Democrats are ready for the fight, warning that Trump and his fellow Republicans are ripping away health care and driving the economy into the ditch — all to retain tax breaks approved during Trump's first term that are expiring at year's end. 'What we see from Donald Trump and the Republicans is they are actually crashing the economy in real time,' said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. 'Why,' the Democratic leader asked, 'are Republicans jumping through hoops' to try to reduce Medicaid and food stamps used by millions of Americans? 'It's all in service of enacting massive tax breaks for their millionaire donors like Elon Musk,' he said. Johnson has projected a calm confidence, insisting that House Republicans are on track to deliver on Trump's agenda. The speaker's office has become a waystation with a revolving door of Republicans privately laboring to piece together the massive package. So far, GOP leaders have signaled they are walking away from some, but not all, of the steep Medicaid cuts. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said the proposals could result in millions of people losing their coverage. Instead, what appears to still be on the table are tougher work requirements for those receiving Medicaid and food stamp assistance and more frequent eligibility tests for beneficiaries. That's not enough for the conservatives, who also number in the dozens and are insisting on deeper reductions. Ciscomani, in his second term, signed onto a letter with Bacon and others warning House Republican leadership he cannot support a bill that includes 'any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.' 'Our point is that we understand the need for reform,' Ciscomani said. 'But anything that goes beyond that and starts jeopardizing rural hospitals in my district and their existence overall, then we're running into an area where it will be very difficult to move forward. I think it's very important they know that.' Bacon, Ciscomani and others joined on a separate letter raising concerns about eliminating clean-energy tax credits, including those passed under President Joe Biden, a Democrat. 'Go with a scalpel. Go pick out some things,' Bacon told The Associated Press. He and the others warned that companies are already investing millions of dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act's incentives to green energy. 'You just can't do a wholesale throw it out,' Bacon said. Democrats are also applying political pressure in Ciscomani's district and beyond. As Republicans decline to hold town halls on the advice of their leaders, Democrats are stepping in to warn constituents about what could happen to programs they rely on for health coverage and to put food on the table. Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Cory Booker of New Jersey visited Ciscomani's Tucson-based district last month to offer harsh condemnations. Kelly asked how many in the room were represented by Ciscomani, and then he warned about how scores of residents in the district could lose their health care coverage. 'And for what? It is so Donald Trump could give a big, giant tax cut to the wealthiest Americans. It is not fair,' Kelly said. Booker, fresh off his 25-hour speech on the Senate floor, was even more pointed, saying just three House Republicans have to change their mind to upend the GOP's effort in the House, with its narrow majority. 'I believe one of them has to be in this district right here,' Booker said. 'Either he changes his mind or this district changes congresspeople. It's as simple as that.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GOP centrists revolt against steep cuts to Medicaid and other programs in Trump's tax breaks bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — When it comes to Medicaid, Rep. Juan Ciscomani is telling fellow Republicans he won't support steep cuts that could hit thousands of residents in his Arizona district — 'my neighbors, people my kids go to school with' — who depend on it. Republican Rep. Don Bacon, who represents the liberal-leaning 'blue dot' of Omaha, Nebraska, is trying to protect several Biden-era green energy tax breaks. He's warning colleagues that 'you can't pull the rug out from under' businesses that have already sunk millions of dollars into renewable developments in Nebraska and beyond. And for Republican Rep. Nick LaLota of New York, it's simple: 'No Salt. No Deal. For Real.' He wants to revive — and bump up — what's known as the SALT deduction, which allows taxpayers to write off a portion of their state and local taxes. Capping the deduction at $10,000 hurt many of his Long Island constituents. 'Governing is a negotiation, right?' said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, another Republican who is also involved in the talks. 'I think everybody is going to have to give a little.' As GOP leaders draft President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill' of some $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $1.5 trillion in spending cuts by Memorial Day, dozens of Republicans from contested congressional districts have positioned themselves at the center of the negotiating table. While it's often the most conservative members of the House Freedom Caucus driving the legislative agenda — and they are demanding as much as $2 trillion in cuts — it's the more centrist-leaning conservatives who could sink the bill. They have been hauled into meetings with Trump at the White House, some have journeyed to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, and many are huddling almost daily with House Speaker Mike Johnson. And they are not satisfied, yet. 'To get everybody politically and policy-wise on the same page is going to require more conversations,' said LaLota, who is among five Republicans pledging to withhold their support unless changes to the SALT deduction are included. Republicans wrestle with what to put in — and what to leave out Diving into the gritty details of the massive package, the GOP leaders are running into the stubborn reality that not all the ideas from their menu of potential tax breaks and spending cuts are popular with voters back home. Moreover, their work of compiling the big package is not happening in a vacuum. It comes amid growing economic unease rippling across the country as Trump has fired thousands of federal workers, including some of their own constituents, and as his trade war sparks concerns of empty store shelves and higher prices. Brendan Buck, a former adviser to an earlier House speaker, Paul Ryan, warned in an op-ed Wednesday that all the party's energy is being poured into one bill, with questionable returns. "Many Republicans are hoping that the tax bill can blunt the economic damage caused by the Trump tariffs," Buck wrote in The New York Times, 'but that is highly unlikely.' Democrats are ready for the fight, warning that Trump and his fellow Republicans are ripping away health care and driving the economy into the ditch — all to retain tax breaks approved during Trump's first term that are expiring at year's end. 'What we see from Donald Trump and the Republicans is they are actually crashing the economy in real time,' said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. 'Why,' the Democratic leader asked, 'are Republicans jumping through hoops' to try to reduce Medicaid and food stamps used by millions of Americans? 'It's all in service of enacting massive tax breaks for their millionaire donors like Elon Musk,' he said. GOP leaders search for consensus Johnson has projected a calm confidence, insisting that House Republicans are on track to deliver on Trump's agenda. The speaker's office has become a waystation with a revolving door of Republicans privately laboring to piece together the massive package. So far, GOP leaders have signaled they are walking away from some, but not all, of the steep Medicaid cuts. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said the proposals could result in millions of people losing their coverage. Instead, what appears to still be on the table are tougher work requirements for those receiving Medicaid and food stamp assistance and more frequent eligibility tests for beneficiaries. That's not enough for the conservatives, who also number in the dozens and are insisting on deeper reductions. Centrists drawing red lines Ciscomani, in his second term, signed onto a letter with Bacon and others warning House Republican leadership he cannot support a bill that includes 'any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.' 'Our point is that we understand the need for reform,' Ciscomani said. 'But anything that goes beyond that and starts jeopardizing rural hospitals in my district and their existence overall, then we're running into an area where it will be very difficult to move forward. I think it's very important they know that.' Bacon, Ciscomani and others joined on a separate letter raising concerns about eliminating clean-energy tax credits, including those passed under President Joe Biden, a Democrat. 'Go with a scalpel. Go pick out some things,' Bacon told The Associated Press. He and the others warned that companies are already investing millions of dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act's incentives to green energy. "You just can't do a wholesale throw it out," Bacon said. Democrats track the vote with an eye on next year's midterms Democrats are also applying political pressure in Ciscomani's district and beyond. As Republicans decline to hold town halls on the advice of their leaders, Democrats are stepping in to warn constituents about what could happen to programs they rely on for health coverage and to put food on the table. Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Cory Booker of New Jersey visited Ciscomani's Tucson-based district last month to offer harsh condemnations. Kelly asked how many in the room were represented by Ciscomani, and then he warned about how scores of residents in the district could lose their health care coverage. 'And for what? It is so Donald Trump could give a big, giant tax cut to the wealthiest Americans. It is not fair,' Kelly said. Booker, fresh off his 25-hour speech on the Senate floor, was even more pointed, saying just three House Republicans have to change their mind to upend the GOP's effort in the House, with its narrow majority. 'I believe one of them has to be in this district right here,' Booker said. 'Either he changes his mind or this district changes congresspeople. It's as simple as that.' ___ Associated Press writer Leah Askarinam contributed to this report.
08-05-2025
- Business
GOP centrists revolt against steep cuts to Medicaid in Trump's tax breaks bill
WASHINGTON -- When it comes to Medicaid, Rep. Juan Ciscomani is telling fellow Republicans he won't support steep cuts that could hit thousands of residents in his Arizona district — 'my neighbors, people my kids go to school with' — who depend on it. Republican Rep. Don Bacon, who represents the liberal-leaning 'blue dot' of Omaha, Nebraska, is trying to protect several Biden-era green energy tax breaks. He's warning colleagues that 'you can't pull the rug out from under' businesses that have already sunk millions of dollars into renewable developments in Nebraska and beyond. And for Republican Rep. Nick LaLota of New York, it's simple: 'No Salt. No Deal. For Real.' He wants to revive — and bump up — what's known as the SALT deduction, which allows taxpayers to write off a portion of their state and local taxes. Capping the deduction at $10,000 hurt many of his Long Island constituents. 'Governing is a negotiation, right?' said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, another Republican who is also involved in the talks. 'I think everybody is going to have to give a little.' As GOP leaders draft President Donald Trump's"big, beautiful bill' of some $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $1.5 trillion in spending cuts by Memorial Day, dozens of Republicans from contested congressional districts have positioned themselves at the center of the negotiating table. While it's often the most conservative members of the House Freedom Caucus driving the legislative agenda — and they are demanding as much as $2 trillion in cuts — it's the more centrist-leaning conservatives who could sink the bill. They have been hauled into meetings with Trump at the White House, some have journeyed to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, and many are huddling almost daily with House Speaker Mike Johnson. And they are not satisfied, yet. 'To get everybody politically and policy-wise on the same page is going to require more conversations,' said LaLota, who is among five Republicans pledging to withhold their support unless changes to the SALT deduction are included. Diving into the gritty details of the massive package, the GOP leaders are running into the stubborn reality that not all the ideas from their menu of potential tax breaks and spending cuts are popular with voters back home. Moreover, their work of compiling the big package is not happening in a vacuum. It comes amid growing economic unease rippling across the country as Trump has fired thousands of federal workers, including some of their own constituents, and as his trade war sparks concerns of empty store shelves and higher prices. Brendan Buck, a former adviser to an earlier House speaker, Paul Ryan, warned in an op-ed Wednesday that all the party's energy is being poured into one bill, with questionable returns. "Many Republicans are hoping that the tax bill can blunt the economic damage caused by the Trump tariffs," Buck wrote in The New York Times, 'but that is highly unlikely.' Democrats are ready for the fight, warning that Trump and his fellow Republicans are ripping away health care and driving the economy into the ditch — all to retain tax breaks approved during Trump's first term that are expiring at year's end. 'What we see from Donald Trump and the Republicans is they are actually crashing the economy in real time,' said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. 'Why,' the Democratic leader asked, 'are Republicans jumping through hoops' to try to reduce Medicaid and food stamps used by millions of Americans? 'It's all in service of enacting massive tax breaks for their millionaire donors like Elon Musk,' he said. Johnson has projected a calm confidence, insisting that House Republicans are on track to deliver on Trump's agenda. The speaker's office has become a waystation with a revolving door of Republicans privately laboring to piece together the massive package. So far, GOP leaders have signaled they are walking away from some, but not all, of the steep Medicaid cuts. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said the proposals could result in millions of people losing their coverage. Instead, what appears to still be on the table are tougher work requirements for those receiving Medicaid and food stamp assistance and more frequent eligibility tests for beneficiaries. That's not enough for the conservatives, who also number in the dozens and are insisting on deeper reductions. Ciscomani, in his second term, signed onto a letter with Bacon and others warning House Republican leadership he cannot support a bill that includes 'any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.' 'Our point is that we understand the need for reform,' Ciscomani said. 'But anything that goes beyond that and starts jeopardizing rural hospitals in my district and their existence overall, then we're running into an area where it will be very difficult to move forward. I think it's very important they know that.' Bacon, Ciscomani and others joined on a separate letter raising concerns about eliminating clean-energy tax credits, including those passed under President Joe Biden, a Democrat. 'Go with a scalpel. Go pick out some things,' Bacon told The Associated Press. He and the others warned that companies are already investing millions of dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act's incentives to green energy. "You just can't do a wholesale throw it out," Bacon said. Democrats are also applying political pressure in Ciscomani's district and beyond. As Republicans decline to hold town halls on the advice of their leaders, Democrats are stepping in to warn constituents about what could happen to programs they rely on for health coverage and to put food on the table. Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Cory Booker of New Jersey visited Ciscomani's Tucson-based district last month to offer harsh condemnations. Kelly asked how many in the room were represented by Ciscomani, and then he warned about how scores of residents in the district could lose their health care coverage. 'And for what? It is so Donald Trump could give a big, giant tax cut to the wealthiest Americans. It is not fair,' Kelly said. Booker, fresh off his 25-hour speech on the Senate floor, was even more pointed, saying just three House Republicans have to change their mind to upend the GOP's effort in the House, with its narrow majority. 'I believe one of them has to be in this district right here,' Booker said. 'Either he changes his mind or this district changes congresspeople. It's as simple as that.'
