Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said Thursday that she is “concerned” about language in the Republican budget resolution that could lead to substantial cuts to Medicaid.
“I’m concerned about the instruction to the House Committee for $880 billion, it’s the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid, because I don’t see how you can get to that amount without cutting Medicaid benefits,” Collins told reporters, according to The Hill.
“In my state, there are more than 400,000 Mainers that rely on that health care program,” she continued. “Our rural hospitals depend upon it as well, and they are really struggling because of actions and inactions by the state Legislature. So the last thing I want to do is cut Medicaid for vulnerable people who are disabled or seniors who cannot work.”
Senate Republicans will begin considering a House passed budget resolution on Thursday that ordered the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid funding, to cut $880 billion in a bill to advance Trump’s agenda.
Though Republicans did not explicitly call for cutting Medicare and Medicaid the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Republicans cannot pass Trump’s agenda or meet their own budget target without making significant cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP.
