Reps. Hinson, Miller-Meeks defend efforts to narrow Medicaid eligibility

Two Eastern Iowa lawmakers are doubling down on their support of a massive package of federal tax breaks and spending cuts despite pushback from Democrats — as well as some of their Republican peers.

A budget reconciliation package cleared some key legislative hurdles in the U.S. House this week before hitting a roadblock Friday in the chamber’s Budget Committee when a handful of conservatives joined Democrats in voting against the bill.

The hard-right lawmakers were insisting on steeper spending cuts while Democrats conversely said the bill goes too far in reducing Americans’ access to support such as Medicaid and SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Budget Committee intends to reconvene Sunday for another go.

A full House vote is possible as soon as next week on the “Big, Beautiful Bill Act,“ and support for the package remains strong among the two Eastern Iowa Republicans in that chamber.

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks was among the 30 Republicans who voted this week to advance the health care portion of a sweeping bill Republicans are pushing that makes cuts and changes to Medicaid, SNAP and taxes.

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Miller-Meeks, from Ottumwa and Davenport, is on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee — one of 11 committees to draw up various portions of the bill.

It’s been the most closely watched committee looking for more than a trillion dollars in savings over the next 10 years to help cover the cost of preserving the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted during Trump’s first term. The committee was tasked with finding about $880 billion in savings over the next decade in the programs under its purview, the bulk of which are proposed to come from changes to Medicaid and rolling back green energy tax credits.

Preliminary estimates from the Congressional Budget Office say about 10 million Americans could lose Medicaid coverage over the next decade under the bill. The partial analysis projects that the major Medicaid policies would account for about $625 billion in savings over that time.

Miller-Meeks, echoing House Republicans, said the changes are focused on work requirements for able-bodied Americans on Medicaid with some exceptions to target waste and abuse.

"As a congresswoman, mother and physician, I am committed to protecting Medicaid for the Iowans who rely on it most," Miller-Meeks said in a statement. "My priority is to make Medicaid stronger, more efficient and more responsive for those who depend on it."

Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, signaled similar support for the package Friday during a call with reporters.

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She heralded the changes to Medicaid eligibility as a means to “eliminate waste, fraud and abuse” of the Medicaid system while maintaining needed resources and assistance for those who need them most.

“The intent of Medicaid is to protect those with disabilities, seniors and single mothers with children,” Hinson said. It’s not there for “29-year-old men playing video games on their mothers’ couch in the basement.”

Comments: grace.nieland@thegazette.com

Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times contributed to this report.