U.S. Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri has been sounding the alarm about the GOP’s scary trajectory. He even describes it as undergoing an “identity crisis.” He emphasized that this crisis revolves around a fundamental question: Does the party stand for working Americans, or does it cater to the interests of wealthy corporate executives? Hawley’s comments are significant as the argument rages within the GOP about proposed Medicaid cuts, a central federal program for poor Americans.
In a recent New York Times opinion piece, Hawley had an eerie but accurate warning for his Republican compatriots—don’t make any deep cuts to Medicaid. He warned that it would be “politically suicidal” to do so. He does so while positioning himself as the true champion of working Americans. He’s adamant that the party should fight for their needs, not those of corporations. His position is a strong departure from Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s support for plans floated by House Freedom Caucus Republicans. These proposals would leave millions of Americans—nearly 9 million low-income Americans—without insurance by slashing Medicaid.
Unfortunately, Hawley has a track record of standing in the way of measures that would help low-wage workers, like his opposition to raising the minimum wage in Missouri. He is, for instance, a key and very active backer of efforts to weaken public-sector trade unions. This calls into question the idea that he is a champion of the working class. Critics complain that he tries to come off as a friend to working-class Americans. They argue that his policy decisions often put the big corporations first.
The senator’s unquestioning loyalty to former President Donald Trump doesn’t help his narrative. He’s firmly committed to protecting and promoting all things Trump and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. His incendiary conduct on January 6, 2021 during the Capitol insurrection that day has received plenty of headlines. Hawley was seen presenting a clenched fist to Trump supporters outside the Capitol before they advanced to attack Congress. He sprinted from the angry mob down the building’s corridors and recorded it all on camera. This footage sparked national outcry.
For all his previous transgressions, Hawley is a rare breed among Republican senators. He’s out front with strong opposition to proposals that undermine social safety nets. Alongside Senator Susan Collins from Maine, he is pushing back against initiatives that would contribute to significant cuts in federally funded health programs. In our piece, Hawley admits that robust support for Medicaid should be a baseline expectation. Millions of low-income Americans, including Americans with disabilities, depend on it for their healthcare needs.