A dozen House Republicans fire warning shot to Mike Johnson [View all]

Source: Axios

Updated 8 hours ago


A dozen swing-district and centrist House Republicans are warning Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that they won't vote for a budget reconciliation package that cuts Medicaid too deeply.

Why it matters: It puts Johnson in a vise as members of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus demand steep cuts to the health program for low-income individuals.

The GOP's clash over how much to offset their planned $4 trillion in tax cuts was on full display last week as the Freedom Caucus rebelled over a Senate budget measure that mandated only $4 billion in cuts.

The House had initially passed a budget resolution that would require $1.5 trillion in cuts — and would likely reduce Medicaid funding.

What they're saying: The 12 lawmakers wrote in a letter to Johnson and other GOP leaders that many of them represent "districts with high rates of constituents who depend on Medicaid."

"Balancing the federal budget must not come at the expense of ... their health and economic security," they said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Axios.

The lawmakers issued an ultimatum: "We cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations."

Zoom in: The letter was signed by Reps. David Valadao (R-Calif.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), Young Kim (R-Calif.), Robert Wittman (R-Va.), Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) and Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.).

Spokespeople for Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The letter was first reported by Punchbowl News.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/04/16/mike-johnson-budget-medicaid-house-republicans

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Link to LETTER (PDF viewer) - https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25898957-house-republican-letter-johnson-medicaid/

Link to LETTER (PDF) - https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25898957/house-republican-letter-johnson-medicaid.pdf

Anyone on DU who lives in Bucks County, PA - take note that your "swing District" PA-1 Rep. - Brian Fitzpatrick (R), was NOT on that signature list.