'What do you say?' CNN host puts GOP lawmaker on the spot over possible Medicaid cuts

CNN anchor John Berman put Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) on the spot by using another Republican’s words, questioning the potential House cuts to Medicaid.

“I'm going to get into the details in just a second, but insofar as you understand at this moment what is in this [spending] bill, how would you vote for it or how would you vote?” Berman asked.

“I'm a yes,” Barr said emphatically. “And I think we're still on track for the speaker of the House's deadline of before Memorial Day. We had a great week. We continued the progress. Every committee has now marked up their piece of the legislation, and we've traveled a long way through a budget resolution to set up this procedure, where we can bypass the filibuster and stop the largest tax increase in American history, fund border security, enhance military modernization, bring Medicaid into the 21st century, get rid of waste, fraud and abuse. Impose some much-needed fiscal responsibility and unleash massive economic growth all in the same package.”

“All right, so you brought up Medicaid, and I promise to get into the details here,” Berman said. “There are what Republicans call reforms in Medicaid spending. [However] Democrats and some Republicans call [the reforms] cuts. Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri, which borders Kentucky, albeit just a little bit. I want to play you what he said about some of the Medicaid references in the legislation.”

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“We're not talking here about just work requirements. The house goes much, much, much further than that,” Hawley said. “This is real Medicaid benefit cuts. I can't support that. No Republican should support that. We're the party of the working class. We need to act like it.”

Berman asked Barr, “So what do you say to your colleague over your western border?”

“Well, I'd love to share some of the details with Senator Hawley,” Barr said. “Look, what this is, is making sure that illegal immigrants are not on the rolls. It's making sure that there's not waste, fraud, and abuse. Making sure there's not duplication, making sure that the states are checking eligibility, making sure that the focus of Medicaid is on the most vulnerable, the traditional Medicaid population, the people who really need it, the disabled, the dual eligible elderly, women and children, the blind people who actually can't work.”

He added, “And what we want to do for a work-capable adults is simply say this: 'We want a participation requirement.' We want something better than Medicaid for you. We want private health insurance through a job, through work and I think this will not only strengthen Medicaid, but it will strengthen our economy and get people back to work, [and get] capable people back in the workforce.”

“Well, like I said, we'll see,” Berman said before he pivoted to other topics.

Watch the full interaction below or click here.

- YouTubeyoutu.be