Kelly and Grijalva Slam Medicaid Cuts as Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Hits a Standstill in DC

Hours after the House Budget Committee rejected a Republican spending plan, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, and congressional candidate Adelita Grijalva criticized proposed cuts to Medicaid. The bill failed by a 16-21 vote, with unity among Democratic members and key Republican dissenters opposing the measure.

Senator Kelly responded to the bill’s failure, asserting that it fell short of demands from rightwing Republicans for deeper cuts. “House Speaker Mike Johnson is misleading,” he stated in Tucson, countering claims that the GOP budget would not exacerbate national debt.

The Congressional Budget Office projected the bill could slash Medicaid spending by $625 million over a decade, increasing the number of uninsured individuals by 7.6 million by 2034. Kelly expressed concern for Arizona’s residents, predicting that around 190,000 state residents could lose health insurance, impacting children and seniors disproportionately.

Adelita Grijalva, campaigning to fill her late father’s congressional seat, argued that the Republican budget would prioritize tax cuts for the wealthy over essential healthcare for the vulnerable. “Medicaid is a lifeline,” she stated, emphasizing its role in providing necessary healthcare to families.

Facing challengers in the upcoming Democratic primary, Grijalva is determined to highlight the implications of GOP proposals. Meanwhile, Giffords urged those in attendance to remain steadfast in fighting GOP initiatives. “We are living in challenging times,” she remarked, inviting collaborative resilience.

As negotiations continue, the House Budget Committee is set to reconvene Sunday night to discuss the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Several contentious issues remain unresolved, including energy credits and tax deductions, potentially complicating the path toward passage.

Some GOP members, including Arizona Representatives Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar, had aimed to modify federal matching funds related to Medicaid expansion, a significant concern for low-income Arizonans. Rep. Juan Ciscomani expressed relief that certain damaging policies did not advance, labeling any automatic repeal of Arizona’s Medicaid expansion a “red line.”

In contrast, House conservatives criticized the bill for perceived fiscal irresponsibility, demanding immediate work requirements for Medicaid recipients and a phase-out of the Affordable Care Act subsidies. Speaker Johnson’s promise that growing economic output would offset substantial spending cuts has been dismissed as “voodoo economics” by Senator Kelly.