Tracking what's destroying Colorado
A curated collection of bills, news, and resources about Colorado politics and policy
A curated collection of bills, news, and resources about Colorado politics and policy
The Denver Post article, published on May 15, 2025, reports that House Republicans have proposed a bill cutting federal Medicaid spending by at least $880 billion over the next decade to help extend President Trump's tax cuts. For Colorado, this could mean billions in lost funding, potentially leading to a state budget shortfall and up to 108,000 residents losing coverage, mainly due to new work requirements and reduced federal matching funds. Critics, including Democrats like Rep. Diana DeGette and Gov. Jared Polis, argue the cuts prioritize tax breaks for the wealthy over health care access, risking higher costs and uncompensated care for providers. Republicans, such as Rep. Gabe Evans, counter that the plan targets fraud and waste while ensuring Medicaid's sustainability for vulnerable populations, with spending still projected to rise annually. The bill has advanced through committee but faces uncertain passage in Congress, and Colorado officials are preparing potential responses, including a special legislative session.
It's high time we got serious about reining in out-of-control government spending, and this Republican-led Medicaid reform is a bold step in the right direction. For too long, bloated entitlement programs like Medicaid have ballooned into unsustainable behemoths, riddled with fraud, abuse, and inefficiencies that drain taxpayer dollars without delivering real value. By cutting $880 billion in wasteful spending—while still allowing the program to grow each year—House Republicans are prioritizing fiscal responsibility to extend President Trump's proven tax cuts, which have fueled economic growth, job creation, and higher wages for working Americans.
In Colorado, the fearmongering about "billions in losses" and "108,000 losing coverage" ignores the bigger picture: these reforms target able-bodied adults who aren't working, encouraging self-reliance through reasonable work requirements (just 80 hours a month of work, volunteering, or training). Studies from places like Arkansas show that such policies don't just cut costs—they promote personal responsibility and reduce dependency on government handouts. Rep. Gabe Evans, a father of a medically complex child, nails it: this isn't about gutting care for the truly needy; it's about protecting Medicaid for kids, the disabled, and seniors who depend on it most.
Democrats' hysteria, like Rep. DeGette's claim that it's all to "please Trump," reeks of partisan politics. They're the ones who expanded Medicaid under Obamacare, turning it into a middle-class entitlement that crowds out private insurance and drives up premiums for everyone. If Colorado faces a budget hole, blame years of liberal overspending, not smart reforms. This bill eliminates nonsense like funding gender transitions for minors and retroactive payments that enable fraud, while cracking down on pharmacy middlemen who jack up drug prices. The result? A leaner, more efficient system that saves money for priorities like border security, infrastructure, and yes, those tax cuts that put more cash in Coloradans' pockets.
President Trump is spot-on urging a "big, beautiful bill" by Memorial Day—it's a win for taxpayers, a check on bureaucracy, and a safeguard for America's future prosperity. Colorado Republicans should lead the charge, showing that conservative principles deliver real results for families, not endless government dependency.