Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) attempted to play down fears that the “big, beautiful bill” would hurt Medicaid recipients on a Saturday night CNN appearance as Senate Republicans scramble to push the massive legislation package to a vote.
Steep cuts to Medicaid proposed in the initial drafts of the bill have been a significant sticking point among a few Senate Republicans, as well as a point of criticism from Democrats, who have bashed the bill as cutting social services for the poor while expanding tax cuts for the wealthy.
On CNN, Rounds defended a proposal that would expand Medicaid work requirements to apply to parents of children over the age of 14.
“We’re not actually cutting Medicaid. What we are doing is significantly slowing down the increase in growth in Medicaid over the next 10 years, and that’s our goal,” Rounds claimed.
He later added, “Nobody on my side of the aisle wants to hurt people.”
Other compromises on Medicaid in the works include a fund for rural hospitals and a delay on tax cuts that help fund state contributions to the health care program.
Any changes to the bill, however, still have to pass muster from the Senate parliamentarian, who enforces the chamber’s rules on what kinds of legislation can be passed through a simple majority. And Republican leaders also have to balance ensuring that any changes made on the Senate side are palatable to the House, as well as President Trump.
If the bill proceeds to a floor vote, Democrats may attempt to slow down its passage by having the Senate clerks read the entire text out loud, a possibility that Rounds critiqued. Then, senators will be able to propose and vote on unlimited amendments.
“And when we’re all done with that, then you have a final vote on the bill, up or down,” Rounds said. “We’ve got a long couple of days ahead of us, but we will be successful in the end.”