Here are the developments from the past week (July 4 – July 11, 2025):
🏛️ Sen. Josh Hawley
Voted in favor of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (GOP’s 2025 budget reconciliation package), which includes deep Medicaid cuts and work requirements that will strip healthcare coverage from many rural Missourians . The Missouri Dems warn this threatens rural hospitals and could cause up to 250,000 Missourians to lose health insurance and 37,400 jobs by 2035 . Although Hawley later claimed the rural hospital funding would increase, critics point out that the imposed work requirements may actually deprive many rural residents of Medicaid .
🗳️ Sen. Eric Schmitt
Also voted for the same GOP budget reconciliation bill, which includes Medicaid reductions, potential rural hospital closures, and increased energy costs .
⚠️ Summary – Detrimental Impacts on Rural Missouri
Here are the votes from July 4–11, 2025 where Rep. Mark Alford took actions that could negatively impact Missourians, especially in rural areas:
⚠️ Negative Impact Votes
July 2, 2025 — Voted Yes on H.R. 1 (the “One Big Beautiful Bill” reconciliation package) This legislation includes proposed Medicaid cuts and stricter work requirements that could strip healthcare coverage from vulnerable rural Missourians and threaten rural hospitals already stretched thin .
References
“Medicaid cuts in ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ could devastate Missouri’s rural hospitals, drive coverage losses,” ABC 17 News (July 3, 2025): https://abc17news.com/news/missouri/2025/07/03/medicaid-cuts-in-big-beautiful-bill-could-devastate-missouris-rural-hospitals-drive-coverage-losses/ “How federal Medicaid changes will affect MO HealthNet and KanCare,” The Beacon News (July 11, 2025): https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/11/medicaid-mo-healthnet-kancare-changes-2025/ “States scramble to shield hospitals from GOP Medicaid cuts,” Missouri Independent (July 10, 2025): https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/10/states-scramble-to-shield-hospitals-from-gop-medicaid-cuts/ “Info – H.R. 1 – 119th Congress (2025–2026): One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/all-info
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