House Democrats Push to Protect Medicaid and SNAP From $880 Billion Cuts Impacting Millions

House Democrats have initiated a discharge petition aimed at forcing a vote on the Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act, a move designed to protect these programs from potential Republican budget cuts. The petition requires the signatures of a few House Republicans to bring the legislation to the floor for a vote. The Democratic effort comes in response to concerns over Republican proposals that could result in significant reductions to Medicaid and SNAP funding. A recent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), requested by Democrats, indicates that such cuts could lead to 3.9 million Americans losing health insurance coverage, with proposed cuts amounting to $880 billion. Several Democratic representatives, including Rep. Brendan Boyle, have publicly supported the petition, emphasizing the importance of Medicaid and SNAP for millions of Americans, including 1.2 million veterans, 4.8 million seniors, and 14.6 million children. They argue that these programs are essential for meeting basic needs and should be shielded from budget cuts. Republicans have countered these claims, asserting that their budget proposals are not solely focused on cutting Medicaid but aim to find savings across various sectors. They argue that any reductions in Medicaid would target waste, fraud, and abuse within the system, not the benefits themselves.