Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) was having none of the Democrats' claims that "people will die" surrounding the "Big Beautiful Bill's" Medicaid reforms in a recent appearance on Fox News's Big Weekend Show.
The hosts of The Big Weekend Show noted that Democrats had previously supported work requirements as part of Medicaid, which aligns with the views of a vast majority of Americans and the crux of the changes to Medicaid in the Big Beautiful Bill, asking Rep. Donalds why they now oppose it.
"The reason Democrats are opposed is because we are beginning the process of unwinding the massive expansion that started under Barack Obama and continued not with that Joe Biden that you just put up, but the last Joe Biden that everybody remembers," Rep. Donalds began, adding, "they massively expanded not just Medicaid, but the welfare state overall. So all we are saying is, if you are able-bodied, between the ages of 18 and 55, you have to work 20 hours a week. And it is not even work; it is going to find a job, volunteering, or going to school. That is what we said."
The Florida Congressman further condemned Democrats for pushing the "people will die" line as "lying," also noting that "the other piece in this bill, in Medicaid and also in SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program], is that we are going to stop these states, especially New York and California, from gaming the Medicaid system so that they can fund their budgets with federal money in order to give welfare and Medicaid to illegals."
"So they are lying because they did not get their way," Donalds concluded. "They do not want to tell the truth because if they told the American people the truth, by polling, we know the American people vehemently disagree with the Democrats, but why are we surprised?"
Donalds' colleague, Representative Mike Haridopolos (R-FL), similarly blasted Democrats, comparing them to the Bolsheviks of the early Soviet Union.
"Republicans want to empower individuals to spend the money as they see fit, whereas Democrats are still playing the old tax and spend game," said Haridopolos, adding, "America has had enough."
