Kaine vows to fight Medicaid, SNAP cuts
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va., is vowing to fight against proposed cuts to Medicaid and the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which the Virginia lawmaker says will hurt low-income families across the Commonwealth and elsewhere.
Kaine, who spoke with Virginia reporters during his weekly media call, said millions of Americans could lose their health insurance under the budget reconciliation package being drafted by House Republicans. Furthermore, Kaine argued that food assistance for low-income families through the SNAP program would be cut over a 10-year-period in the budget reconciliation bill that is also known as the “big, beautiful bill.”
“The notable details that are apparent even on a review of it overnight are this bill would dramatically cut Medicaid,” Kaine said. “The congressional budget office suggests it could reduce the number of Americans with health insurance by up to 14 million.”
Kaine said he will fight “very, very hard” against such cuts in the U.S. Senate.
“But also the House intends to reduce subsidies that low-income families can receive to bring down the cost of insurance in the Medicaid expansion part of the Affordable Care Act,” Kaine said. “And that reduction of subsidies would likely lead to another 5 to 6 million people losing health insurance total.”
Kaine said he also is worried about cuts to the federal SNAP program for low-income families. The SNAP program was formerly known as the federal food stamp program, which helps low-income families with food purchases.
“Second, the cursory examination of the House proposal suggests a nearly $300 billion cut to the SNAP program, food assistance for low-income families and kids over the course of 10 years,” Kaine said. “To cut Medicaid, health insurance for low to moderate income people and to cut food aid for low and moderate income people — why would you do it? The House reconciliation bill shows they are doing it so they can give tax breaks to the very wealthiest, which is a horrible misplaced priority. And I would look forward to battling against it with every fiber of energy that I have should that be the version that gets to us in the Senate.”
Kaine said the so-called “big, beautiful bill” is expected to make it to the U.S. Senate sometime between Memorial Day and the end of July.
“And I’m going to do everything I can to fight against cuts to everyday people to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest,” Kaine said.
Kaine also spoke against efforts by the Trump administration to revive Schedule F, now called Schedule Policy/Career, which would reclassify federal workers.
“Instead of civil servants whose obligation is to the constitutional oath they take they want to convert vastly more of the political workforce to political loyalists whose loyalty would be to the president,” Kaine said. “But I don’t think that should be the case regardless of who the president is. Regardless of the party of the president.”
Under Trump’s plan, Kaine said the hiring and firing of federal employees would be based upon their loyalty to the president. Many of the federal employees who would be impacted by that move are located in Northern Virginia, which Kaine represents in the U.S. Senate.
Kaine also joined other Democrats in slamming Trump’s plan to accept a free Air Force One replacement from Qatar, which Kaine argued is unconstitutional.
“I think it is an illegal action” Kaine said. “It is a violation of the Constitution. Presidents can’t accept gifts from foreign governments without the approval of Congress.”
Kaine argues that Trump is accepting the aircraft as a “personal gift” from a foreign country, which he said makes the move illegal.
“Remember this is the same president getting this massive gift who recently was telling kids that yes tariffs might mean you might get fewer presents for Christmas this year,” Kaine said. “But suck it up kids — you are going to get fewer dolls. You are going to get fewer G.I. Joes or whatever it is.”
Trump has said he wants to accept the $400 million plane, and that it would later be donated to a presidential library. In a post on his social media site Truth Social, Trump said the plane “is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME! It is a gift from a Nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years."