'Red line': House Republican warns Americans 'really concerned' as GOP eyes thorny issue

Congressional Republicans are still paralyzed over just what to do about Medicaid.

According to Politico, House Republicans still want to cut the funding for Medicaid expansion passed in almost every state under the Affordable Care Act — but, House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) said, it's still a contentious problem because a lot of Republicans are scared it could end up hurting their own voters.

“There are some people that are really concerned about [Medicaid cuts],” said Guthrie in conversation with reporters. “That is an issue we have to negotiate through ... or [find] another way to get control of the growth in the expansion population.”

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Sharp cuts to Medicaid were authorized as part of the overall budget framework for President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" on tax cuts, energy, and border security, alongside cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps — although Trump's White House aides are reportedly worried even that could come down hard on Republican-leaning areas.

“We’re walking through people with their concerns. People say, ‘This is my red line, I can’t cross it.’ I say, ‘Where can we meet?’” Guthrie said, according to the report. “That’s why it takes a little bit.”

Complicating matters, some GOP lawmakers have committed firmly against Medicaid cuts of any kind, including Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO).

All of this comes as House Republicans try to begin crafting other portions of the bill, including the border security provisions. Several proposed new fees would make it effectively impossible for poor asylum seekers to gain admission to the country, per experts, and one other provision slipped into the bill would effectively bar federal judges from enforcing contempt of court penalties on Trump or any of his subordinates if they defy court orders.