(DCNF)—Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that Democrats who oppose Medicaid work requirements in President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” bill appear to believe impoverished Americans lack intelligence.
Trump signed the sweeping legislation on Friday, which mandates many able-bodied adults work, volunteer or go to school to qualify for Medicaid, according to Fox News. When CNN’s Dana Bash claimed on “State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash” that some Republicans were the biggest critics of the provision, Bessent pushed back, pointing the finger at Democrats.
“I’m sure you’ve seen and heard a lot of the concern, including, and especially from Republicans who are the most vocal in Congress, about the fact that those work requirements are going to be very cumbersome to actually prove,” Bash said. “And it will inevitably force the people who need that Medicaid coverage off the rolls.”
“Well, first of all, the Republicans are not the most vocal on this. It is a group of Democrats who, unfortunately, seem to think that poor people are stupid. I don’t think poor people are stupid,” Bessent replied. “I think they have agency. And I think to have them register twice a year for these benefits is not a burden — but these people who want to infantilize the poor and those who need these Medicaid benefits are alarmists.”
The new law cuts Medicaid spending by around a trillion dollars over a ten-year period. While every House Democrat voted against the president’s signature policy bill, the only two House Republicans who voted against it on Thursday were Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.
The Senate similarly approved the bill on Tuesday as senators voted 51 to 50, with only Republican Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Susan Collins of Maine voting against it — while all Democrats voted against it.
Democrats have been hysterical about the passage of the bill, warning Americans would die as a result of changes to Medicaid benefits.
The law also delivers on Trump’s campaign pledges, including eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay.
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