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- GOP senator attempts to assuage Medicaid fears over Trump bill: 'Nobody … wants to hurt people'</p>
<p>Miriam WaldvogelJune 28, 2025 at 6:53 PM</p>
<p>Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) attempted to play down fears that the "big, beautiful bill" would hurt Medicaid recipients on a Saturday night CNN appearance as Senate Republicans scramble to push the massive legislation package to a vote.</p>
<p>Steep cuts to Medicaid proposed in the initial drafts of the bill have been a significant sticking point among a few Senate Republicans, as well as a point of criticism from Democrats, who have bashed the bill as cutting social services for the poor while expanding tax cuts for the wealthy.</p>
<p>On CNN, Rounds defended a proposal that would expand Medicaid work requirements to apply to parents of children over the age of 14.</p>
<p>"We're not actually cutting Medicaid. What we are doing is significantly slowing down the increase in growth in Medicaid over the next 10 years, and that's our goal," Rounds claimed.</p>
<p>He later added, "Nobody on my side of the aisle wants to hurt people."</p>
<p>Other compromises on Medicaid in the works include a fund for rural hospitals and a delay on tax cuts that help fund state contributions to the health care program.</p>
<p>Any changes to the bill, however, still have to pass muster from the Senate parliamentarian, who enforces the chamber's rules on what kinds of legislation can be passed through a simple majority. And Republican leaders also have to balance ensuring that any changes made on the Senate side are palatable to the House, as well as President Trump.</p>
<p>If the bill proceeds to a floor vote, Democrats may attempt to slow down its passage by having the Senate clerks read the entire text out loud, a possibility that Rounds critiqued. Then, senators will be able to propose and vote on unlimited amendments.</p>
<p>"And when we're all done with that, then you have a final vote on the bill, up or down," Rounds said. "We've got a long couple of days ahead of us, but we will be successful in the end."</p>
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