They want to work even if you can't........... Mighty white of them.

House GOP hard-liners digging in on Medicaid work requirements

Ultraconservatives are demanding changes in order to support the legislation, which GOP leaders want to put to a floor vote next week.

Meredith Lee Hill

House GOP hard-liners are livid over a move by leadership to delay implementation of new work requirements for Medicaid for several years.

It’s one of the thorniest and politically explosive pieces of the GOP mega-bill, and ultraconservatives are demanding changes in order to support the legislation, which GOP leaders want to put to a floor vote next week. Hardliners want to move up the start date for the work requirements, which are set to begin in 2029 under the current language in the bill.

Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to navigate a host of far-right demands before a final vote. But he’s also facing strong opposition from centrists to many of those asks, including the push to move up the start date for Medicaid work requirements. Hardliners have vented their frustrations to both GOP leaders and White House officials this week. They are especially upset over the push from SALT Republicans to significantly boost the key tax deduction for high tax blue states.

House GOP leaders are deeply wary of making further Medicaid changes, especially to the work requirements.

Johnson, asked Wednesday morning if he would agree to move up the Medicaid work requirement start date in the bill, wouldn’t comment.

“We have lots of discussions ahead,” Johnson added.