Sunflower State News

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), appeared on Fox News Live with Rich Edson to discuss the Senate’s current efforts on the reconciliation bill, the ongoing negotiations regarding the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, proposed changes to Medicaid, and developments in U.S. foreign policy related to conflicts abroad.

During the interview, Marshall described the reconciliation bill as overdue and emphasized its significance for both President Trump’s legacy and the country’s future. “In my career as an obstetrician, I feel like this bill is three weeks past its due date. It’s time to have the baby. Everyone’s upset – that means we’re probably close to where it needs to be. We cannot blow this chance. This is the President’s legacy, his agenda. If you supported President Trump, you should support this bill. This will be the largest tax decrease in American history. We’re going to secure the border – a whole lot of other good things, but mostly this is the beginning of America’s great, golden era.”

On negotiations surrounding the SALT deduction and its effect on moving legislation forward in Congress, Marshall said: “… Over in the house, I think we have a little tighter margin. And again, I think that what we asked the President to do here was split the baby, but he’s keeping the baby together. This is the best we can get. Speaker Johnson was there with us yesterday, negotiating this to the last second. I think everyone has thrown their best argument on the table – I think that’s a great step forward. I wish we were cutting more spending, including this, but this is the best bill that we can get through the finish line.”

Addressing Medicaid reform and access to care for vulnerable populations such as seniors in nursing homes and children, Marshall highlighted proposed block grants for rural hospitals and Community Health Centers as key provisions: “Again, just because you have Medicaid doesn’t mean you have access to care. You pointed out that a third of doctors don’t accept Medicaid, and another third basically rule them out through the schedule. What our bill does is give a block grant for rural hospitals and for Community Health Centers. One of my three pillars of MAHA is making sure that everyone has meaningful, affordable access to primary care. Even Bernie Sanders agrees with me that these Community Health Centers are a great way to do that. I think that healthcare will be better.

“And in this bill, we absolutely preserve Medicaid for those who need it the most. We don’t touch seniors in nursing homes, people with disabilities, pregnant women or children. So, we will protect Medicaid for those who need it the most. And on the other hand, we want to make sure everyone has access to care. We’ll do it through a block grant – I’m so proud of the work we’ve done here, as far as making health care more affordable and more accessible.”

Marshall also explained where anticipated savings from Medicaid reforms would come from: “So, the savings come from a couple of things. One, something called a provider tax which is absolutely a scam—a money laundering scam—where you have one state maybe getting 25 times more per person than what a state like Kansas is getting. So we need to level out those provider taxes.

“And then as we talk about people that may lose Medicaid; half of them are people that are on it fraudulently or through some type of error; and the other half will be those that are refusing to work 20 hours a day [sic]. Again 60-70% of Americans support some type of work requirements if you don’t have a disability; you’re working age; you don’t have a child under 13; then I think it’s reasonable to ask people to work or volunteer for 20 hours a week.”

Regarding U.S involvement in Middle East conflicts between Israel and Iran—and recent military operations—Marshall commented: “I think it will take them years just to restart their nuclear program. I think that they can’t control their airspace; they don’t have the will to do it… From what I’ve seen—I’m in shock and awe… It’s shocking how much damage we did to their facilities… Obliterated is a great term… Thanks to all those Air Force guys who did this off… I’m an Army guy but I’m still going salute them… They did a great job… And thanks to all our soldiers over in Middle East—I don’t see Iran getting back in this ball game for several years.

“Iran cannot have any type of nuclear bomb if they don’t want move things in different direction right now then we need double down on our sanctions whatever we need do look I don’t want boots ground tired all killing want all killing stop Gaza Iran—all these different places Ukraine But at end game Iran cannot have nuclear warhead.”

The full interview can be viewed by visiting Fox News’ website.