Sen. Hawley Warns GOP Against Medicaid Cuts Amid Party Divide

Senator Josh Hawley is vocally opposing proposed deep cuts to Medicaid within the Republican Party, criticizing a faction he calls the "Wall Street wing" for prioritizing corporate interests over the needs of working-class Americans. Hawley argues that Medicaid, which serves over 70 million low-income Americans and a significant portion of Missourians, is vital and that cutting it would be both morally wrong and politically disastrous for Republicans. He highlights that Medicaid expansion has been supported by voters in Missouri, reflecting its importance to the party's base. Hawley frames the debate as an existential choice for the GOP: to either represent working Americans or corporate elites, warning that cutting Medicaid could alienate their core supporters. The House energy and commerce committee's proposals to find $880 billion in federal spending cuts, largely targeting Medicaid, have sparked resistance from Hawley and a few other senators. He emphasizes that many Republican voters depend on social insurance programs like Medicaid and that the party risks losing support if it pursues substantial cuts.