Context:

Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has announced his retirement and criticized President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' for potentially breaking promises made regarding Medicaid. Tillis, who voted against proceeding with the spending package, emphasized that the bill could lead to significant federal cuts to Medicaid, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. He expressed concern that the advice given to President Trump by White House healthcare experts could mislead him into eliminating necessary programs under the guise of cutting waste and fraud. Tillis consulted with various stakeholders and presented findings indicating a potential $26 billion reduction in federal support for Medicaid, which he claims were initially dismissed but later acknowledged as accurate. In his retirement announcement, Tillis highlighted the diminishing presence of bipartisan and independent thinkers in politics, urging caution among Republicans regarding cost-cutting measures that could impact re-election prospects.

Dive Deeper:

• Senator Thom Tillis announced he will not seek re-election and simultaneously criticized President Trump’s 'big, beautiful bill' for its potential impact on Medicaid, highlighting a betrayal of promises made by Trump to eliminate waste without cutting essential programs.

• Tillis voted against a motion to proceed with the spending package, citing concerns over its implications for Medicaid, and took to the Senate floor to warn that it could lead to the removal of many eligible individuals from the program.

• In his criticism, Tillis pointed out that White House healthcare experts were misguiding Trump, focusing on eliminating Medicaid's provider tax under the guise of cutting waste, which could lead to significant funding cuts.

• The senator revealed consultations with state experts and healthcare stakeholders, leading to a report showing a potential $26 billion cut in Medicaid funding, which was initially dismissed by federal officials but later confirmed as accurate.

• Despite appreciating certain reforms in the bill, such as work requirements, Tillis argued for taking more time to refine the legislation rather than rushing to meet an arbitrary deadline, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to healthcare reform.

• Tillis reflected on past broken healthcare promises, drawing parallels with the Affordable Care Act, and stressed the importance of maintaining trust by avoiding drastic cuts that would negatively impact constituents.

• In his retirement announcement, Tillis expressed concern over the polarization in politics and the scarcity of leaders willing to embrace bipartisanship and independent thinking, urging caution to Republicans regarding aggressive cost-cutting strategies.