(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Medicaid cuts are so harmful to the GOP Josh Hawley talks like a Democratic Socialist in saying "NO" [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-05-19
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is a smart guy who I suspect is eyeing a presidential run. So it is no surprise that, despite being a Republican, when it comes to Medicaid cuts, he is a firm "No". Last Monday, he wrote a guest essay published in the New York Times headlined: ' Don’t Cut Medicaid '
In his piece, the tassel-loafered, Yale Law School alum embraces the American working class and takes on what he calls the Wall Street Journal wing of the party. He writes,
"This wing of the party wants Republicans to build our big, beautiful bill around slashing health insurance for the working poor. But that argument is both morally wrong and politically suicidal." (Note: In GOP-speak, 'morally wrong' and 'politically suicidal' are two ways of saying the same thing.)
The bill he refers to is the Trump omnibus measure (aka the Big Beautiful Bill) that the House Budget Committee passed during the wee hours of Sunday night. It is now up for a full House vote. If it passes, it will head for the Senate, where it faces the same rocky future as a Trump wife.
Hawley then goes full Democratic. Not mainstream democratic, but Bernie Sanders-style Democratic Socialist.
Republicans need to open their eyes: Our voters support social insurance programs. More than that, our voters depend on those programs. And there's a reason for this that Republicans would do well to ponder. Our economy is increasingly unfriendly to working people and their families.
Unlike the rabid House GOP, whose thirst for Trump's approval strips them of electoral common sense, the Senate Republicans, especially those not up for reelection in 2026, have a longer view. Hawley and his fellow pragmatists know that the 'optics' of a measure that slashes $880 billion from Medicaid to partially pay for $4.9 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations tax cuts are disastrous.
Just how disastrous was illuminated in a poll of Americans on the subject. This survey showed that, on Medicaid, 76% of all adults oppose significant spending cuts to Medicaid — including 79% of independents (who decide elections). Even 55% of Republicans oppose stripping the working poor of health insurance.
CNN's Harry Enten had this to say (full video is at the bottom).
"The politics of this are so extremely bad it blows my mind."
He adds,
"This, simply put, is not popular on any part of the aisle. From the left all the way to the right, the opposition is in the majority. When you get a majority of Republicans, majority of independents, a majority of Democrats to agree on anything, you know that is where the American public stands. The politics of this, simply put, are atrocious."
Enten points out that Medicaid does not favor one part of the political spectrum over another. When asked if they, or someone they knew, was on Medicaid, an identical percentage (62%) of Democrats and Republicans answered "yes."
Republicans, knowing that slashing Medicaid is politically damaging, pretend they aren't cutting the program; they are merely 'reforming' it. If the Democrats can't hang this Orwellian framing around the GOP's neck, the left needs a new party.
Rep Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) points out that even the MAGA cult leader has said the program is sacrosanct. He told CNN's John Berman:
"First of all, Donald Trump said he's not cutting Medicaid, okay. So that's what he has been saying, okay. Yet Republicans come with almost $800 billion [Note: it's nearly $900 billion] of Medicaid cuts. Which is what the Democrats have been talking about for the last five months. This is taking healthcare away from our most vulnerable to offset some of these tax cuts."
In an interview with CNN's Manu Raju, Josh Hawley reiterated his opposition to Medicaid cuts. The host showed a clip of Speaker Mike Johnson ignoring the commandment about bearing false witness by saying, "We are not cutting Medicaid. Stop buying that," as he scuttled away from the media. Raju then asked Hawley:
"Do you agree with the Speaker? Is this bill not a cut to Medicaid?"
Hawley, being a politician and a lawyer, did not directly answer the question. Although, in fairness, he made his position on Medicaid clear. He replied
"Well, the right thing to do is not cut Medicaid. So I am glad to hear him say that, Manu. It ought to be a basic foundational principle: It is wrong to cut healthcare for the working poor."
Hawley points out that 20% of Missouri's residents, including thousands of children, are on Medicaid. And that Missouri is a "Medicaid expansion state". He hammers home the point that many Medicaid recipients are employed. A position at odds with Republican orthodoxy that recipients of government aid are lazy bastards. A caricature Ronald Reagan created in 1976 by slamming 'Welfare Queens."
Hawley makes a surprisingly humanitarian point — and this is where he sounds like a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat.
"They're not on Medicaid because they want to be. They are on Medicaid because they cannot afford health insurance in the private market. These are working people and their children who need healthcare. And it's wrong to cut their healthcare when they are trying to make ends meet. Trying to help their kids. Trying to make sure they can provide for their families."
Hawley then makes the same point Moskowitz did.
"By the way, President Trump has said the same thing. 'No Medicaid benefits cuts'."
Raju points out that millions will be left without healthcare, and rural hospitals could go out of business. And that the bill raises co-pays for Medicaid beneficiaries.
Hawley agrees that hospitals shutting down and rising costs to the poor concern him. He says the House bill goes "way too far in that regard". And about the increased co-pays, he says:
"I also don't like what is basically a hidden tax on working poor people who are trying to get healthcare. I mean this whole idea of we're going to charge them now additional co-pays in order to access healthcare. I have to say that just sounds like a tax to me. So now we're taxing poor people when they are trying to get access to healthcare? I've got big concerns about that,
Raju then asks Hawley if he is a "No" on the current House bill. Hawley says he is, adding:
"It has to change before it can pass the Senate. And I stand by my line in the sand. No Medicaid benefits cuts."
Hawley says he has no problem with work requirements. But he adds that no Republican should support cuts to Medicare because the GOP is the "Party of the working class." How multiple tax cuts for the rich fit into this narrative is anyone's guess.
Hawley then continues his flaming leftist rhetoric. He again slams the WSJ wing of the party and adds that they
"want to tax the working class like crazy. It is reverse class-warfare is what it is. It's taxing the poor to give to the rich. And i'm totally opposed to that."
Raju then asks Hawley if he thinks "some of the wealthier taxpayers should pay higher taxes?" Hawley replies,
"I'm fine with that."
It is strange times we live in. I doubt that Hawley gives a shit about working stiffs. And it is safe to bet he is a snake in the grass. But it's the first time I've heard a Republican be so vocal and forthright in protecting social programs. And be so clear he's willing to increase taxes on the rich (even if it is only by allowing the top rate to rise by 1%).
Democrats need to take this extremely seriously. Hawley is aiming to lead the past-MAGA Republicans by increasing their support among the working class. That is a demographic that has already shifted right. Democrats can't afford to lose more.
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/5/19/2323249/-Medicaid-cuts-are-so-harmful-to-the-GOP-Josh-Hawley-talks-like-a-Democratic-Socialist-in-saying-NO?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
