Rep. Keith Self (R) announced this week that he will continue to oppose President Donald Trump’s (R) “Big Beautiful Bill,” despite his support for the broader agenda. On social media, Rep. Self explained that he opposes the bill because of concerns over Medicaid and delayed cuts.
Rep. Self’s main concerns center on Medicaid expansion, which he warns could pressure non-expansion states like Texas into adopting provisions of the Affordable Care Act that he believes would burden the state’s healthcare system and increase dependency.
“The GOP does not want to be saddled with endorsing and owning Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion,” Rep. Self wrote on X. “Medicaid expansion in which states receive 7X more federal funds for able-bodied adults than for pregnant women, children, and the disabled is a money laundering scheme.”
While I support passing President Trump’s agenda in the One, Big Beautiful Bill, Congress has more work to do. I remain a NO.👇
-The GOP does not want to be saddled with endorsing and owning Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion.
-Medicaid expansion in which states receive 7X more…
— Rep. Keith Self (@RepKeithSelf) May 19, 2025
Texas is one of a few states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, and Rep. Self warned that the bill could undermine that status. “All ten would be hard-pressed not to join the Medicaid expansion program. Texans do not want to downgrade our great medical system by engaging in the chaos of Obamacare,” he added.
He further criticized the bill’s approach to fiscal responsibility, arguing that it delays necessary spending cuts. “Delaying spending cuts is Washington code for kicking the can down the road,” he said, echoing frustrations shared by fiscal conservatives.
Rep. Chip Roy (R), who previously voted “no” on the bill, shifted his vote over the weekend to “present.” The Texas Republican cited improvements in the bill, such as Medicaid work requirements and reduced green energy subsidies, but he still believes that more work is needed before final passage.
Rep. Self, however, remains firm in his opposition to the bill, arguing that it “Does not repeal the Green New Scam.”
Oklahoma Rep. Josh Brecheen (R), Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde (R), and South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman (R) had previously voted "no" on the bill, but they joined Rep. Roy in voting "present" to allow the bill to move forward.
