Radio Report: Couture says Washington’s Medicaid slashed by state Democratic budget writers, not the federal government

August 18, 2025

The House Republican budget leader says state Democratic budget writers slashed Medicaid in Washington by nearly 800-million dollars in April, months before Congress acted. John Sattgast reports.

SATTGAST: Governor Ferguson and state legislative Democrats have been pointing fingers at the federal government for Medicaid cuts. But House Republican Budget Leader Travis Couture says new data shows deep Medicaid cuts were passed in April by majority Democrats within the state operating budget long before Congress acted in July.

COUTURE: “The Democrat cuts are pretty straightforward. They hit general medical services for U.S. citizens. And they hit long-term care. And they hit people with disabilities, and nursing homes – all the way across the board.”

Couture says it’s hypocritical to blame Republicans in Congress when state Democrats themselves cut Medicaid during the legislative session to fund pay raises for themselves and state bureaucrats.

COUTURE: “I mean, there are zero dollars cut from the federal government in Medicaid as of right now. But Democrats have already cut almost a billion dollars in just two years.”

SATTGAST: Couture called on Democrats to fix the damage and says House Republicans will be working on a solution for the 2026 session in January.

John Sattgast, the state Capitol.