Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., pushed back against the objections of Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., regarding President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, pointing to new provisions designed to safeguard hospitals and rural communities from potential funding shortfalls, Politico reported.
On “Fox News Sunday,” Banks defended the GOP’s sweeping spending bill after Tillis announced he would vote against the bill, warning that it “would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities.”
Banks said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Trump already alleviated those concerns by carving out a $15 billion stabilization fund for rural hospitals.
“Leader Thune and President Trump have added a fund specifically geared towards keeping those hospitals going and making up for the losses that might be incurred,” Banks said.
He emphasized that the Medicaid reforms in the bill focus on work requirements and removing ineligible recipients. “Remember: The Medicaid reforms in this bill are about work requirements and taking illegals off Medicaid. That is what is in the bill and what the clerk’s reading on the floor right now. That is the truth.”
The president’s spending package has drawn criticism from both parties for its proposed changes to Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office projects that by 2034, the bill could leave approximately 16 million Americans uninsured, in part due to its changes, which include cutting waste, fraud, and abuse.
Sen. Banks Rebuts Sen. Tillis on Medicaid Cuts in Trump Bill | Newsmax.com