Targeting Vulnerable Republicans, Campaign Demands 'Hands Off Medicaid' in Spending Cut Talks

With President Donald Trump in the White House and Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, the GOP is examining numerous ways to offset the revenue loss that's expected from the proposed extension of the 2017 tax cuts—a decision that's expected to cost more than $4 trillion, with wealthy individuals and businesses benefiting the most.

But the advocacy group Protect Our Care, which was founded in 2017 as the first Trump administration faced intense backlash against its effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is now working to ensure that Medicaid cuts are left out of upcoming budget reconciliation talks—and that Republicans who support such cuts face consequences in upcoming elections.

The group on Tuesday launched a $10 million campaign titled "Hands Off Medicaid," with TV and digital ads running nationwide, particularly in states with high numbers of Medicaid enrollees and Republican lawmakers whom Protect Our Care believes could be pressured to defend the program.

"What we're focused on are those members who come from states with large Medicaid populations, and who should have the guts to stand up for their constituents," Leslie Dach, founder of Protect Our Care, told The Washington Post. "This is a campaign designed to stop these cuts from happening in reconciliation."

While the ads will be seen across the nation, reminding lawmakers that 79 million Americans are covered under the healthcare program for low-income people, children, and patients with disabilities, the Republicans who are being particularly targeted include Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), Susan Collins (Maine), Thom Tillis (N.C.), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), and Reps. Michael Lawler (N.Y.), Ryan Mackenzie (Pa.), and David Schweikert (Ariz.).

In addition to launching an ad blitz, Protect Our Care is organizing the writing of op-eds and letters to the editor placed by experts, healthcare professionals, and people who rely on Medicaid; grassroots lobbying and meetings with lawmakers; and in-person and virtual events in key states and districts.

While the group shares the stories of people covered by Medicaid, including more than 31 million children, Republicans have been perusing a "menu" of more than $5 trillion in potential spending cuts, including an estimated $2.3 trillion from the healthcare program.

Republicans are considering changes to the program's payment structure that would fund Medicaid based on state population; reintroducing work requirements, which Trump greenlit during his first term; and lowering the rate of federal payments for Medicaid beneficiaries who are covered under the ACA's expansion of the program.

On Monday night, hours after his inauguration, Trump rescinded an executive order signed by former President Joe Biden that made it harder to impose work requirements for Medicaid enrollees.

The advocacy group Social Security Works pointed out ahead of Trump's inauguration that "every member of the U.S. House is on the ballot in two years."

"If they try to cut ONE PENNY from Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, we will make sure that they lose their jobs," said the group.

More than 300 organizations signed a letter earlier this month, as members of Congress were sworn in, warning them that cutting Medicaid "would betray your constituents of all political affiliations who are seeking more economic security, not less."

Dach noted on Tuesday that Republicans are eyeing cuts to social spending after an election in which the party "claimed to care about working people and the cost of living."

"Nothing could be more outrageous than ripping away healthcare from millions of seniors, children, moms, and workers to pay for another round of tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires," said Dach. "The American people didn't vote in November to have their grandparents kicked out of nursing homes or healthcare ripped away from kids with disabilities or expectant moms in order to give [billionaire Trump backer] Elon Musk another tax cut."

"We know firsthand from the campaign to defeat [the] ACA repeal eight years ago, and every healthcare fight since, that healthcare is a top-of-mind issue for Americans—and they want lawmakers to do more to ensure affordable access to coverage, not less," Dach added. "Our 'Hands off Medicaid' campaign will make that abundantly clear and demand that Medicaid cuts are off the table—for good."