WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso, a medical doctor who practiced in Casper for more than 20 years, said Wyomingites are “unlikely” to be hurt by Medicaid changes in the controversial budget bill that’s nearing a final vote.
During the Senate’s 35-hour weekend session, Democrats one Republican, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, warned the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would devastate lower-income people in red states.
Democrats complained of proposed changes to several programs that benefit lower-income people, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Their loudest alarms centered on Medicaid.
Democrats and Tillis said the bill would cause backdoor cuts through cost-shifting changes to Medicaid, a joint federal and state program, burying recipients in red tape and piling responsibilities on states. They said the bill would throw millions of people off the safety-net program and shutter rural hospitals.
The American Hospital Association announced Sunday it formally opposes the Senate version of the bill.
Barrasso Cites ‘Reforms’
Barrasso is undeterred by the criticism over the Medicaid language in the bill. He issued a statement to Cowboy State Daily on Monday that says in full:
“As a doctor in Wyoming for over 20 years, I’ve cared for Medicaid patients my entire career. I understand Medicaid’s importance for the people it is intended to serve. I have also seen its shortcomings.
“Thanks to Wyoming being good stewards of taxpayer dollars, the Medicaid reforms included in the bill are unlikely to negatively impact our state. Wyoming’s policies are already aligned with a majority of the Medicaid provisions. This includes work requirements for all able-bodied adults enrolled in Medicaid.
“Medicaid was established to help children, pregnant women, seniors and the disabled. We need to make sure that high-quality care is accessible and reliable to those who qualify for Medicaid. This bill does that.”
Floor votes on amendments — known as “vote-a-rama” — began Monday about 7:30 a.m. in Wyoming. A final vote on the sprawling tax and spending package was to follow.
Tillis: Broken Promise
President Donald Trump has promised not to cut entitlement benefits — Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — and some Republicans have pointed to those statements over the past several months.
Democrats and Tillis say the One Big Beautiful Bill Act amounts to a breach of that pledge insofar as Medicaid is concerned.
“The effect of this bill is to break a promise,” Tillis said on the Senate floor Sunday night.
Tillis said he has sought analyses of the bill’s Medicaid provisions from diverse sources — one aligned with Democrats, another with Republicans and one nonpartisan. He also said he has had extensive discussion with members of the Trump administration.
“Republicans are about to make a mistake on health care and betray a promise,” Tillis said. “It is inescapable.”
Tillis is one of two Republicans who voted Saturday not to advance the budget bill. The other was Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who is unhappy with the $5 trillion debt limit hike in the Senate’s version of the bill.
The bill advanced 51-49 in that vote.
The Senate took up the bill Saturday at noon Mountain time and did not adjourn until 11:14 p.m. Sunday. The Senate reconvened at 7 a.m. Monday.
Democrats forced a full reading of the nearly 1,000-page bill, which lasted more than 16 hours over the weekend as clerks took turns.
The House passed its version of the bill in May by a single vote, 215-214.
Sean Barry can be reached at sean@cowboystatedaily.com.
