The Fresno Bee: David Valadao, 11 fellow Republicans draw a red line on cutting Medicaid
By The Fresno Bee Editorial Board
April 21, 2025 11:00 AM
Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, spoke at the public swearing-in ceremony for Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare, at the Tulare City Council Chambers on Jan. 31, 2025. JUAN ESPARZA LOERA jesparza@fresnobee.com
Two days after two Democratic federal lawmakers brought their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour to a crowd of 4,000 in Bakersfield to oppose Republican plans to cut Medicaid, Rep. David Valadao and 11 other Republicans have drawn a red line. “We cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations,” Valadao said in the April 14 letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson and others.
The appearance by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – and Valadao’s letter – was more than symbolic. Sixty-seven percent of residents in Valadao’s 22nd Congressional District rely on Medicaid. Republicans are pushing legislation that experts say would slash Medicaid. The cuts are needed in order to pass a new budget, analysts have said. Two other federal Democrats – Rep. Ro Khanna and Jimmy Gómez – have held town halls in Valadao’s districts within the last five weeks.
“Just look at what Republicans have been quietly doing in Congress, including your congressman out there, Rep. Valadao,” said Ocasio-Cortez at the Bakersfield rally. “They’ve been voting to advance cuts of hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid and veterans’ benefits, so that they can take that money and give it to billionaires in the form of tax cuts.”
Valadao, who provided a crucial vote in advancing the Republican budget plan, has been targeted by Democrats who see him vulnerable because then-President Joe Biden posted a 13-point advantage over Trump in the district in 2020.
Valadao has maintained his belief that President Donald Trump will not cut Medicaid. Still, the Hanford dairyman has sent letters to Republican leaders defending Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California. The GOP holds a thin 220-213 edge in the House, so a defection of four Republicans could sink any bill. (Elections for two seats held by Democrats who died recently have not been held).
“Slashing Medicaid would have serious consequences, particularly in rural and predominantly Hispanic communities where hospitals and nursing homes are already struggling to keep their doors open,” said a February letter sent by the Congressional Hispanic Conference.
The Republican budget plan tasks the House Energy and Commerce Committee to trim at least $880 billion over the next 10 years. Medicaid accounts for 93% of the budget under the committee’s jurisdiction, according to a March 5 analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Valadao’s latest letter was also sent to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Brett Guthrie, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Technically, no cuts have been made to Medicaid. However, the math does not add up if Republicans are to save $1.5 trillion in spending over the next 10 years to extend Trump’s tax cuts, which would disproportionately benefit the wealthy.
What does Valadao say now
In his letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican House leaders, Valadao and 11 other Republicans said “balancing the budget must not come at the expense of those who depend on these benefits for their health and economic security.”
Medicaid needs reforms to make it “a strong and long-lasting program” for the future, but “we cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reductions in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations,” the letter said.
“We are committed to working with you to preserve Medicaid and identify responsible savings through deregulation, streamlining federal programs, and cutting administrative red tape,” the April 14 letter said. “Communities like ours won us the majority, and we have a responsibility to deliver on the promises we made.”
The dozen Republicans – including Orange County Rep. Young Kim – appear to acknowledge what many Medicaid recipients fear from the Republican budget plan.
“Cuts to Medicaid also threaten the viability of hospitals, nursing homes, and safety-net providers nationwide,” the letter said. “Many hospitals – particularly in rural and underserved areas – rely heavily on Medicaid funding, with some receiving over half their revenue from the program alone.
“Providers in these areas are especially at risk of closure, with many unable to recover. When hospitals close, it affects all constituents, regardless of healthcare coverage.”
It’s good to see that some Republicans still care for the health and well-being of their communities. Their votes will be vital to preserve Medicaid. Valadao must now deliver on his pledge, otherwise his words mean nothing and he should not represent the district.
