House committee delays key vote amid disagreements over Medicaid
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is delaying a key vote on its portion of the package full of President Trump's legislative priorities amid continued disagreements over potential cuts to Medicaid.
The panel had initially been planning to hold a markup — where the group debates legislation and votes on advancing it — on May 7, a committee aide previously told The Hill. But on Thursday, the panel informed members that it is now eyeing a markup the week of May 12, a committee source told The Hill.
Instead, the committee plans to hold member meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday.
'The Chairman had a very productive conversation with President Trump at the White House today. In order to follow up on a few requests we are not marking up next week,' committee staff told members, according to the source. 'Please hold the week of May 12th for our reconciliation markup, with Committee meetings beginning prior to votes on Tuesday.'
'We will have Member meetings next week on Tuesday and Wednesday in lieu of hearings/markups,' the message added.
The Hill reached out to the Energy and Commerce Committee for comment.
The delay comes after a week of House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) holding meetings with a cross-section of House Republicans, which failed to help reach consensus on potential cuts to Medicaid.
Guthrie met with moderates wary of such cuts Wednesday afternoon, House Freedom Caucus members pushing for steep slashes Wednesday night, and then traveled to the White House with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and others to meet with Trump on Thursday.
The delayed markup deals a blow to Johnson, who was pushing to wrap up all markups next week. Another panel could also see its markup happen later in the month: The House Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, which lawmakers are still at odds over.
Republicans from high-tax blue states want to increase the SALT cap, which hardline conservatives are opposed to. The panel never officially announced a markup, but Johnson on Wednesday said it was his 'expectation' that it would take place next week.
'Going to make things easier for everyone: We have not scheduled a markup,' J.P. Freire, a spokesperson for the House Ways and Means Committee, wrote on X. 'We did not schedule one. When we schedule one, we will send out a notice. Ways and Means members are working towards getting this bill done.'
The budget resolution, which lays out parameters for crafting the final Trump agenda bill, directs the House Energy and Commerce Committee to find at least $880 billion in cuts, a figure that scorekeepers say cannot be reached without changes to Medicaid, which centrists are adamantly opposed to. Hardline conservatives, however, are pushing for cuts because they want the package to be deficit neutral, a detail some have dubbed a red-line.
Neither side of the debate appears ready to relent.
'We have very clearly articulated our position on protecting Medicaid for eligible recipients,' Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) told reporters Thursday. 'Leadership is well aware of that.'
Trump, for his part, has said he does not want to slash Medicaid, opting to focus on the alleged 'waste, fraud and abuse' involved with the social safety net program — a similar sentiment expressed on Capitol Hill.
'One of the things that's very important will be saving Medicaid for Americans in need,' Trump said after his meeting with top lawmakers on Thursday. 'We will not let the Democrats destroy it and all the waste, fraud and abuse they seem to love and they will decimate Medicaid if they get the chance, we're not going to give them the chance.'
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