House Speaker Mike Johnson was pressed on his chamber's budget, which narrowly advanced along party lines despite swirling questions that it opens the door to cuts to Medicaid.
Johnson joined "The Source" late Wednesday to discuss the budget, and faced multiple questions over whether his party's budget essentially calls for slashing funding for Medicaid, a joint federal and state program that provides health care coverage to low-income Americans.
Johnson insisted to Collins that Medicaid cuts aren't on the table, even though their budget resolution directs the House Energy and Commerce Committee to find $880 billion in spending cuts over the next decade. Medicaid is expected to bear the brunt of these reductions.
ALSO READ: 'Gotta be kidding': Jim Jordan scrambles as he's confronted over Musk 'double standard'
"The White House has made a commitment — the president has said over and over and over, we're not going to touch Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid," he said. "We've made the same commitment."
Even so, Johnson added they will "carve out" any fraud, waste and abuse, including what he estimated was $50 billion in Medicaid fraud.
"No one's for that, we gotta make sure we eliminate it," said Johnson, saying advanced technology can find such wrongdoing.
Johnson also called for ensuring illegal aliens aren't receiving Medicaid benefits.
Collins homed in on his statement and demanded to know where the "other $780 billion" in cuts would come from.
Johnson tried to deflect, saying Republicans are targeting wide swaths across the federal government to find savings, and saying any Medicaid attacks are Democratic "talking points."
"Everybody needs to watch the process play out," he insisted and said Republicans in Congress will need about five weeks to hash out the budget. "Everybody just reserve judgment. Watch us work and you'll like the final product."
But Collins refused to leave the topic, noting the GOP budget instructs the Energy and Commerce Committee to find $880 billion in cuts.
"How do they get $880 billion in cuts from that committee without cutting Medicaid?" she asked.
Johnson replied the committee has broad jurisdiction to find cuts elsewhere — then issued a challenge to Collins and her staff: "Do a word search for Medicaid on the resolution that we passed last night. You will not find it. That is not part of this equation."
The two clashed when Collins insisted the "vast majority of funds" the committee has are Medicare and Medicaid.
"No that's not — that's just — that's simply not true," Johnson interjected, shaking his head.
Johnson said the committee's jurisdiction spans 20 pages.
"I'm talking about the biggest pools," Collins replied.
"We're not going to cut benefits for people who are rightly deserving," he insisted. "Watch this play out and reserve your judgment."
Johnson added: "Let's let this play out. We have a long football game to play. Last night was the kickoff to the game."
