Watch: Andy Besher Full Speech at DNC Convention
Kentucky Gov. Andy Besher spoke in support of Kamala Harris at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Besher argued that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax policy bill’s Medicaid cuts would have a “devastating” effect on rural communities.
“This is the worst law I’ve seen in my life, and it’s the attack on Congressional Republicans and presidents in rural America,” Democrats told CNN’s Dana Bash in a July 6 interview with “Coalition State.”
He said about 200,000 people in Kentucky could lose medical care under the bill. He said this will result in a number of new Medicaid labor requirements and other restrictions that health professionals claim will cause the closure of rural hospitals.
Lawmakers have included $50 billion in the law to support these hospitals, but experts say it’s not enough to make up for the expected $155 billion decline in federal Medicaid spending in rural areas.
Besher, considered the party’s potential presidential candidate in 2028, said up to 35 rural hospitals in Kentucky were at risk of closure as a result of the bill.
“What that means is that our economy will be a huge hit,” he said.
“You lost 200 jobs from doctors, nurses, people with order. Suddenly, the coffee shop gets even worse. There aren’t many people in the bank.
Still, Republicans argue that the biggest cuts to Medicaid (implementing healthy adult work requirements) are popular among voters, with other changes, such as more frequent eligibility checks, being common sense options.
The Democrats say, “Unfortunately, it seems that the poor people are stupid. I don’t think the poor people are stupid. I think they have agents. I don’t think it’s a burden to register twice a year for these benefits.”
“People who want to infantilize the poor and those who need these Medicaid benefits are on alert.”
Congressional Republicans passed a massive tax cut and spending package on July 3rd. Trump signed the law on July 4th.
This was an important goal for Trump and Republican leaders in Congress, winning the Tri-Regiment during the 2024 election and using their political muscles to force what they called “one big and beautiful bill” at the pace that quickly fired both chambers.
The passage came out despite deep party reservations and unanimous opposition from Democrats who view it as a ticket to regaining a majority in Congress in 2026.
