By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie said in a statement he supports Republican’s Budget Reconciliation Bill
After an overnight session, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 1 on Tuesday, July 1, by a 51-50 vote which saw Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul being one of the few Republicans to vote against the GOP’s mega bill.
Guthrie represents Kentucky’s second congressional district, which includes all of Barren County, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009. During the House Floor debate he voiced his full-throated support of the Republican bill.
“I rise in support of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes the work of the Energy and Commerce Committee to unleash American energy, promote innovation, and protect health care for our most vulnerable Americans,” Guthrie said. “We claw back wasteful and unnecessary spending, unleash affordable and reliable American energy, and support technological innovation by reauthorizing spectrum auction authority.
“This bill delivers on promises the President and Congressional Republicans made to the American people,” he added.
One of the provisions in the lengthy bill is one that would “slash the Medicaid program for low-income people and some people with disabilities,” according to the Kentucky Lantern. The Kentucky Hospital Association came out in opposition of the cuts in a letter sent to the U.S. House.
Bart Logsdon with T.J. Regional Health said in an email to Glasgow News 1 that 70 to 75 percent of the hospital’s funding comes from Medicaid. T.J. Regional Health Chief Executive Officer Neil Thornbury said hospitals are “closely monitoring” the proposed Medicaid cuts, noting that “the real impact of these decisions will ultimately fall on patients.”
“These programs are the foundation of care for millions of Americans, and any significant reductions could jeopardize access to essential services, especially in rural communities, like ours,” Thornbury said in a written statement. “Rural hospitals do not just provide emergency care, they offer a lifeline for important services. For many patients, these facilities are the only nearby option for primary care, behavioral health, surgical procedures, maternity services, and more.”
“In the event of significant funding cuts, hospitals may be forced to reduce or eliminate services, meaning patients could be required to travel 60 to 90 miles or more for critical care,” he added.
Currently, the U.S. House of Representatives is debating the bill with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8) speaking against it for several hours.
“Democrats continue to fearmonger and misrepresent what is in this bill but let me be clear – House Republicans are eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse to focus Medicaid on the most vulnerable, not able-bodied adults who choose not to work,” Guthrie said. “We are fighting for common sense policies to protect America’s children, pregnant women and mothers, individuals with disabilities, and low-income seniors. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.”
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