'Get a job!' Republican wrangles with CNN host over Medicaid cuts
Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) claimed Monday that he believed President Donald Trump's spending bill would ultimately pass once it heads back to the House, and that it will include an 80-hour-a-month work requirement for Medicaid recipients.
CNN host Pamela Brown pressed Zinke about how he'll be able to justify the Medicaid work provision to his constituents.
"The Congressional Budget Office estimates that nationally, the Senate version of Trump's agenda bill would leave 11.8 million more people without health insurance by the year 2034," Brown began, then asked, "How do Republicans explain this to their constituents?"
Zinke answered, "Well, living paycheck to paycheck is on the premise that you're working. But look, if you're an able-bodied male and you choose to sit on the couch, not work, and you're getting Medicaid, that's taking benefits from someone else who needs it...I would say, look, get a job."
Brown clarified that the Senate version of the bill would limit federal funding, raising concerns that "people are going to lose out on Medicaid coverage as a result."
Zinke said he agreed that states needed to pick up more of the burden, before reverting back to his argument about jobs.
"Remember we had Obamacare that was supposed to be the end-all for insurance. That didn't work. And so a lot of people choose not to work, and they're still getting Medicaid...and look, when the federal government is picking up the tab at little from the states, what's going to happen is you're going to expand, expand, expand. That's why we have the budget."
Brown pushed back, saying, "A small percentage of those receiving Medicaid don't work. And so, you know, a majority work at least part-time when it comes to Medicaid. So, can you say for certain that no one who is eligible for Medicaid who works or works part-time will not be impacted by this? Are you comfortable with that?"
Zinke conceded that if someone is only working "five hours a month, yeah, you're not going to be able to have access to Medicaid."
"But there's reasons, because people are caregivers and that kind of thing," Brown interjected
"The House version, which I understand is going to be pretty close to what the Senate is, that the standard is 80 hours. But look, you could work at a food pantry and get 80 hours," Zinke maintained.