MADISON, Wis. – With the new Congress underway and President-elect Trump set to take office next week, new reporting hints at a renewed push from House Republicans to cut programs that support many Wisconsin families. The push comes as Republicans look for ways to pay for an extension and expansion of Trump’s 2017 tax law, which would include massive tax breaks for the ultra-rich and big corporations. 

According to a new report from Politico, Republicans are likely to target cuts to Medicaid, limit access to coverage under the Affordable Care Act, and roll back provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which have lowered costs for Wisconsinites and helped strengthen American manufacturing and infrastructure. According to the report, some House Republicans have already warned leadership against some of these repeals. Republicans in Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation have stayed silent on these proposed cuts, but they have a long record of supporting similar proposals that would jeopardize things Wisconsinites rely on while also backing costly tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. 

Trump has repeatedly called for an extension of his 2017 tax policy. The extension would mean additional tax breaks primarily aimed at the ultra-wealthy and big corporations, some of which have been able to avoid paying any federal tax as a result of the 2017 law. Wisconsin Republicans including Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden have previously been supportive of extensions to Trump tax policies aimed at giving breaks to those at the top.

“Millions of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites are able to access care, make ends meet, and succeed with the help of programs like Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and nutrition assistance programs. Instead of helping working families succeed, House Republicans are threatening these successful programs,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation can’t stay silent any longer: It’s time for Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden to speak out against these proposed cuts and reject efforts to give more tax breaks to those at the top. We need policies that strengthen our communities, lower costs for families, and grow our economy.”

POLITICO: House GOP puts Medicaid, ACA, climate measures on chopping block
[1/10/25, By Ben Leonard, Meredith Lee Hill, and Kelsey Tamborrino]

  • House Republicans are passing around a “menu” of more than $5 trillion in cuts they could use to bankroll President-elect Donald Trump’s top priorities this year, including tax cuts and border security.
     
  • The early list of potential spending offsets obtained by POLITICO includes changes to Medicare and ending Biden administration climate programs, along with slashing welfare and “reimagining” the Affordable Care Act.
     
  • Cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and the country’s largest anti-hunger program would spark massive opposition from Democrats and would also face some GOP resistance. House Speaker Mike Johnson can’t afford any Republican defections if he wants to pass a package on party lines.
     
  • Even proposed cuts to green energy tax credits, worth as much as $500 billion, could be tricky — as the document notes, they depend “on political viability.” Already 18 House Republicans — 14 of whom won reelection in November — warned Johnson against prematurely repealing some of the IRA’s energy tax credits, which are funding multiple manufacturing projects in GOP districts.
     
  • Johnson and GOP leaders are hunting for trillions of dollars in cuts, with lawmakers estimating Trump’s domestic policy agenda — including tax cuts and border security proposals — costing as much as $10 trillion over the coming decade.
     
  • Johnson, with scores of House Republicans this week to chart the way forward, and groups of GOP members are set to meet with Trump in Florida this weekend.
     
  • In addition to Medicaid and ACA cuts, the document floats clawing back bipartisan infrastructure and Inflation Reduction Act funding.