In a sharp critique of his party, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) condemned the recently unveiled budget proposal, expressing disapproval of President Donald Trump’s endorsement of the bill.
The proposed legislation, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has drawn criticism for its proposed reductions in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). According to estimates, these cuts could result in up to 11.8 million individuals losing health coverage.
During a passionate speech on the Senate floor, Tillis challenged the President directly, stating, “I am telling the president that you have been misinformed. You supporting the Senate [bill] will hurt people who are eligible and qualified for Medicaid.”
The bill proposes significant reductions in discretionary spending, aimed at offsetting tax cuts for affluent individuals and large corporations. Key health care reforms include stricter work requirements for Medicaid recipients, restrictions on state Medicaid funding, and discontinuation of tax credits that assist in making private health insurance affordable.
Sen. Tillis was one of two Republican senators to oppose moving the bill forward in a recent vote. He concurrently announced his decision to not seek reelection, which many attribute to the potential political fallout should the bill be enacted.
In North Carolina, approximately 3 million residents are enrolled in Medicaid. Despite President Trump’s repeated assurances to maintain Medicaid, the proposed cuts have sparked concern. Tillis questioned, “What do I tell 663,000 people, in two years or three years, when President Donald Trump breaks his promise by pushing them off Medicaid? Republicans are about to make a mistake.”
The Senate is anticipated to pass the bill later this week, after which it will return to the House for further amendments. Although Trump aimed to sign the legislation by July 4, the timeline has shifted to July 7.
With Tillis stepping down, several Republicans, including Rep. Tim Moore, Rep. Richard Hudson, and Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, have shown interest in his Senate seat.
On the Democratic side, former Rep. Wiley Nickel has announced his candidacy. Speculation continues around former Gov. Roy Cooper’s potential entry into the race. Nickel stated, “No matter which MAGA loyalist Donald Trump hand-picks to run in North Carolina, I’m the Democrat who’s ready to take them on and win. North Carolinians are independent-minded and won’t be fooled by extremists pushing an agenda that puts billionaires first and working families last.”
Tillis’ recent stance on health care marks a notable shift from his previous positions. He has historically opposed Medicaid expansion under the ACA and repeatedly voted to repeal the law.
According to The Cook Political Report, the race to fill Tillis’ seat is currently rated as a “toss up.”
The post Thom Tillis turns on Trump, warns GOP bill “will hurt people” appeared first on American Journal News.
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