Key Republican senators pushed back Sunday against criticism of cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill, including Medicaid work restrictions and the elimination of many green energy subsidies.
The Senate version of President Trump’s signature tax and spending legislation imposes 80 hours a month work requirements on able-bodied adults, including those with children ages 15 and up. It also reduces the health care provider tax, which helps fund state Medicaid plans.
Critics argue that those changes could result in millions of people losing access to Medicaid, which provides health care to over 70 million low-income Americans.
Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) also touted plans to consider an amendment that would ensure illegal immigrants don’t get access to Medicaid.
“Remember, the Medicaid reforms in this bill are about work requirements and taking illegals off of Medicaid,” Banks told “Fox News Sunday.”
The Senate version of the megabill also significantly rolls back tax credits for green energy in the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act and requires key projects to go into service by the conclusion of 2027 to qualify.
It also features an excise tax that takes aim at solar and wind projects.
“Again, $1.6 trillion in spending cuts by eliminating the Green New Deal tax credits. Those scams that were passed during the Biden administration,” Banks added. “Much of it is phased out in a quick period of time over the next two or three years.”
Republicans defend cuts to Medicaid, green energy in Big Beautiful Bill: ‘absolutely out of control’