Senator Reverend Warnock Fights to Amend GOP Tax Bill to Prevent Cuts to Medicaid Benefits; Moral Effort Voted Down by Senate GOP

Senator Reverend Warnock offered a bipartisan amendment to the Senate GOP budget resolution that would prevent cuts to Medicaid if it hurt benefits or services

The Senate GOP budget resolution would cut $880 billion from Medicaid

President Trump claimed he would not sign any GOP tax bill that would cut Medicaid benefits, echoing the sentiments of Washington Republicans

However, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found GOP plans to cut Medicaid could not be achieved without "major cuts to Medicaid"

The amendment failed 48-51

WATCH: Senator Reverend Warnock fights to amend GOP tax bill

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) fought to amend the Senate GOP budget resolution to guarantee that cuts to Medicaid would not impact benefits or services, decrease coverage, or slash provider payments. Although Washington Republicans claimed the proposed $880 billion Medicaid cuts would target waste, fraud, and abuse rather than benefits, GOP Senators failed to back up their words with any action. By voting down the Senator's amendment, Washington Republicans are leaving the health care of Medicaid recipients, including 1.3 million Georgia children, on the chopping block.

"My colleagues have claimed their proposal to cut up to $880 billion from Medicaid is just cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. So, here's their chance to back up their words with action," said Senator Reverend Warnock."If they are so confident that they can cut $880 billion from Medicaid without children, without seniors, or the severely disabled losing benefits or coverage, then they should vote for my amendment. But if my amendment is voted down, it is a sad admission that my colleagues value the financial health of the richest of the rich over the physical health of millions of children and seniors."

Senator Reverend Warnock has long championed efforts to expand affordable health care access, starting with his advocacy to close the health care coverage gap in Georgia. In addition to pushing for solutions to close the coverage gap, the Senator is committed to preserving and protecting access to health care for millions of Georgians.

Full remarks can be watched HERE and found below:

Mr. President, I know we assert this a lot around here, but I really rise to offer a very simple amendment: no cuts in Medicaid benefits, no cuts in Medicaid coverage.

My colleagues have claimed their proposal to cut up to $880 billion from Medicaid is just cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. So, here's their chance to back up their words with action.

If they are so confident that they can cut $880 billion from Medicaid without children, without seniors, or the severely disabled losing benefits or coverage, then they should vote for my amendment.

But if my amendment is voted down, it is a sad admission that my colleagues value the financial health of the richest of the rich over the physical health of millions of children and seniors.

I urge my colleagues to support my amendment with Senator Kelly and others.

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I notice that my colleague from Idaho did not say that they will not cut coverage, if the Senator believes they can do this without kicking a single person off Medicaid, you should vote for my amendment.

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