Kentucky governor slams GOP's tax, spending law
By: Riley Beggin
USA Today
..... Kentucky Governor Andy Beschear argued that the Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump's sweeping tax policy law will have a :devastating' impact on rural communities.
.....
"It's the single worst piece of legislation I've seen in my lifetime, and it is a congressional Republican and president attack on rural America," the Democrat told CNN's Dana Bash in a July 6 [2025] interview on "State of the Union."
..... He said around 200,000 people in Kentucky could lose their health care under the law, which implements new work requirements for Medicaid and a raft of other restriction that health care experts argue will trigger hospital closures in rural areas.
..... Lawmakers included a $50 billion fund in the legislation to prop up these hospitals, but experts say it won't be enough to make up the 4155 billion expected decline in federal Medicaid spending in rural areas.
..... Bershear, who is considered a potential presidential candidate for his party in 2028, said up to 35 rural hospitals in Kentucky could be at risk of closing as a result of the bill.
..... "What that means is our economy takes a huge hit," he said. "You lose 200 jobs from doctors and nurses and orderlies and all of a sudden the coffee shop does worse, the bank doesn't have as many folks coming in. This is going too hut rural American right in the face."
..... Still, Republicans have argued that the biggest expected cut to Medicaid - the implementation of work requirements for able-bodied adults - is popular among voters, and other changes such as more frequent eligibility checks are commonsense options.
..... Democrats "unfortunately seem to think that poor people are stupid. I don't think poor people are stupid. I think they have agency, and I think to have them register twice a year for these benefits is not a burden,: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said on CNN on July 6. [2025]
..... Republicans in Congress passed the massive tax cut and spending package on July 3. [2025] Trump signed it into law the following day.
..... It was the key goal for Trump and Republican leaders in Congress, who captured a trifecta of power in Washington during the 2024 elections and have sued that political muscle to force the bill rapidly through both chamber.