Protestors gather outside U.S. Senator Ron Johnson's office on Wednesday to protest potential cuts to Medicaid. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Just under one week after the House of Representatives passed a budget resolution, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, is continuing to voice concerns over possible cuts to Medicaid.
In Wisconsin, Medicaid provides care for more than a million people.
Tuesday, Baldwin held a roundtable discussion in Green Bay with people and families who rely on Medicaid.
“Significant majority of folks who need skilled nursing care towards the end of their life ultimately are on Medicaid, Medicaid is supporting that,” said Baldwin after the roundtable.
The budget resolution includes instructing the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees programs like Medicaid, to make a potential $880 billion in cuts.
Fears over cutting Medicaid sparked a demonstration outside of Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson’s Oshkosh office back in February.
Despite concerns from Democrats and others, Republicans say cuts made at the federal level would not come at the expense of essential programs like Medicaid, for those who need it most and are eligible.
“We absolutely will not gut the system. We want to make sure that the system is solvent and is able to be utilized for those that need it,” said U.S. Rep. Tony Wied, R-8th District.
Wied says the budget blueprint is allowing lawmakers to look into waste, fraud and abuse.
“You could look at examples of folks that aren’t maybe citizens, right? Of our country that are utilizing the services,” responded Wied.
“Any business that you work at or own does the same thing and you have to look at it and make sure you’re efficient to make sure things are maintained, again for those that need it,” Wied added.
Still, Baldwin isn’t buying it.
“Well they’re saying one thing and doing another,” said Baldwin.
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