Freshman wishlist: Jim Justice's warnings on DOGE and Medicaid
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Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) is eager to start balancing the federal budget in the Senate, but he also says DOGE has mowed "past the fence."
Why it matters: The popular one-time-Democratic governor has a big personality, a beloved dog and a long beef with his Senate predecessor, Joe Manchin.
- "I always felt like that Joe wanted something for himself ... whether it be prestige or whatever," Justice says. "And I have a real problem with that."
- "There's nothing Fancy Dan about me," Justice tells Axios. "I don't want a thing."
In an interview, Justice talked at length with us about the importance of a balanced budget. He wants to follow the same playbook he used in West Virginia.
- But he's also "concerned" about some of the GOP conversations around Medicaid. 28% of the West Virginia population is covered by Medicaid and CHIP.
- Justice supports work requirements, but he needs more information on other cost-cutting proposals that may limit Medicaid expansion.
- He is no longer sure whether GLP-1 weight loss medications should be covered by Medicaid, a proposal he has previously supported.
Zoom in: "Get rid of the waste. Keep something close to a flat budget. Don't cut into the bone," is Justice's solution to avoid alienating voters.
- He is overall pleased with Elon Musk and DOGE's work, but thinks they has gone too far at times.
- "It is impossible to not mow past the fence in some areas," he says, adding that when that happens, "you're going to have to adjust."
Between the lines: Justice seems to enjoy being different.·
- He is unpretentious and unassuming ("Call me Jim," he tells Axios) — but uses a private jet for his daily commute. He gets around the Senate in an electric mobility scooter and is never far from his beloved bulldog, Babydog.
- "Yogi Bear would say, you know, I'm an unusual bear," Justice tells Axios.
Justice coaches high school girls basketball and has found early camaraderie with the other coach in the Senate — Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.)
- "He always teases all the time about 'we're the best two coaches in the whole Senate,'" Justice tells Axios. He mentions Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) as others he gets along with.
- Nobody has been as instantly popular as Babydog, his bulldog that visits the Capitol about once a week — and is swarmed by staffers, lawmakers and reporters.
