Senator Maria Cantwell to NPI: Michael Baumgartner's comments claiming Republicans won't cut Medicaid dollars are "ridic

“ridiculous”

The other day, newly-elected right wing Congressman Michael Baumgartner had the audacity to claim to the press and to his constituents that Republicans in the House aren’t going after Medicaid funding, claiming in remarks reported by The Spokesman-Review: “There’s going to be no reduction in overall dollars to Medicaid.”

That’s despite the fact that on February 25th, Republicans — including Baumgartner — passed a resolution (H Con Res 14) directing the House Energy & Commerce Committee to find $880 billion in federal expenses to cut by a vote of 217–215.

“The committee’s options for those reductions are almost entirely in spending for Medicaid, a federal-state program that provides health care for low-income people, and Medicare, the federal program that covers seniors,” The Annenberg Public Policy Center explained in a fact check published on March 5th. “There’s little doubt [Medicaid] would face cuts under the plan — and it would have to if Medicare cuts are off limits.”

I had the chance yesterday to ask Senator Maria Cantwell about Baumgartner’s comments following a press conference in Seattle in which healthcare providers, nonprofit leaders, and Apple Health (Medicaid) recipients joined her in demanding that Republicans cease plotting to defund Medicaid, one of America’s most vital public services.

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https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2025/03/senator-maria-cantwell-to-npi-michael-baumgartners-comments-claiming-republicans-wont-cut-medicaid-dollars-are-ridiculous.html