House Republicans Support Controversial Bill Despite Initial Opposition
Several House Republicans facing tough reelection battles in the coming year have shown support for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), despite reservations about some of its provisions. These lawmakers include Reps. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-07), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-07), Mike Lawler (NY-17), and Young Kim (CA-40), who have all emphasized bipartisanship as a core aspect of their political identities.
According to a KFF tracking poll, 64% of voters disapprove of the OBBB, mainly due to its Medicaid cuts. Projections suggest that by 2035, about 15 million Americans might lose health insurance because of these cuts.
Rep. Ciscomani had previously criticized the bill’s healthcare reductions, stating in an April press release that he “cannot and will not vote for legislation that reduces Medicaid coverage for those who need it” and affirmed his “unwavering commitment to preserving Medicaid benefits.” However, he ultimately voted in favor of the bill.
After modifications by the Senate, Ciscomani once again raised concerns over Medicaid cuts in the bill. In a June letter co-signed by him, he emphasized, “As Members of Congress who helped secure a Republican majority, we believe it is essential that the final reconciliation bill reflects the priorities of our constituents. Most importantly, the critical need to protect Medicaid and the hospitals that serve our communities.” Despite these concerns, he supported the bill again later.
The letter was also backed by Kiggans, Lawler, and Kim, who voted for the bill with the Medicaid cuts intact. Concerns were also raised about the bill’s rollback of clean energy tax credits, initially introduced during the Biden administration.
Kiggans cautioned that a wind farm project in Virginia Beach might be endangered if these rollbacks persisted. Similarly, Kean expressed worries that New Jersey residents might face increased utility bills due to the cuts.
In another letter from June 2025, Kean, Kiggans, Lawler, Kim, and Ciscomani jointly advocated, “The transferability of energy tax credits should remain available throughout the lifetime of the credit. Transferability ensures affordable electricity for American families and provides certainty for developers.” Despite this appeal being overlooked, all signatories still supported the bill. Since President Donald Trump returned to office, household electricity costs have surged by approximately 5.5%.
These legislators are also part of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, dedicated to “advancing common-sense solutions to key issues facing our nation.” This membership is often cited as evidence of their bipartisan efforts.
In 2023, Kean stated, “I joined the Problem Solvers Caucus to help find solutions for families and businesses in New Jersey. Every day of gridlock in Washington is another day that issues impacting my constituents at home go unaddressed.” Around the same time, Lawler remarked, “I ran for Congress as a bipartisan problem solver committed to action, not idle talk.”
Despite these claims, the Center for American Progress reports that 99% of House Republicans, including those highlighted in this article, have voted with the White House at least 95% of the time.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has identified the districts held by Kean, Kiggans, Lawler, Kim, and Ciscomani as prime pickup opportunities for the 2026 elections.
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