Eight House Republicans who are members of the Hispanic conference or represent large Hispanic populations are publicly pressing Speaker Mike Johnson to not slash Medicaid, food assistance and Pell Grants in his budget plan.
The group’s new letter to Johnson Wednesday is a serious escalation of private concerns lawmakers have been airing in recent days. House GOP leaders are pressing for rank-and-file lawmakers to back the latest budget plan on the House floor next week — the next step to unlock their massive, party-line bill that spans energy, border and tax policy.
GOP Reps. Tony Gonzales (Texas), Monica De La Cruz (Texas), David Valadao (Calif.), Juan Ciscomani (Ariz.) Rob Bresnahan (Pa.), Nicole Malliotakis (N.Y.), along with Dels. James Moylan of Guam and Kimberlyn King-Hinds of the Northern Mariana Islands, sent the letter to Johnson Wednesday. That means six voting members are further complicating Johnson’s plans.
The speaker faced at least a dozen holdouts on his budget plan Wednesday, ahead of President Donald Trump’s social media post that both chambers should advance the House GOP’s resolution. Their concerns included deep cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and other safety-net programs.
In the letter, the lawmakers wrote that nearly 30 percent of those enrolled in Medicaid are Hispanic and the health care program is “expected to bear the brunt of these reductions” with a proposed $880 billion in cuts under the Energy and Commerce Committee. The lawmakers noted: “for many families across the country, Medicaid is their only access to healthcare.”
“Slashing Medicaid would have serious consequences, particularly in rural and predominantly Hispanic communities where hospitals and nursing homes are already struggling to keep their doors open,” the lawmakers added.
The group also noted that large numbers of families in their districts and territories rely on SNAP food aid benefits.
