Tariffs, Medicaid divide Arizona lawmakers
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Members of Arizona's congressional delegation discussed tariffs, Medicaid funding, border security and other federal issues during an Arizona Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednesday. Photo: Jeremy Duda/Axios
Members of Arizona's congressional delegation on Wednesday gave conflicting views of President Trump's policies on tariffs, possible Medicaid cuts and other federal issues as they discussed the current political landscape.
The big picture: Republican U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, Eli Crane and Abraham Hamadeh, and Democratic U.S. Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly sat for a pair of panels at an Arizona Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday at the Arizona Biltmore.
- Chamber president and CEO Danny Seiden questioned the House members in one panel and the senators in the other.
Zoom in: Seiden opened the discussion with a question about tariffs, zeroing in on Biggs, who he noted was once a staunch free-trade advocate in the state Legislature.
- Now more aligned with Trump's protectionist stance, Biggs argued global trade isn't playing on a level field due to cheating by trade partners.
- Multilateral institutions don't work, he added, noting he believes movement toward bilateral trade agreements will reduce tariffs.
- "I think there's going to be some short-term pain for long-term gain," Biggs said, explaining the rationale for his changed views on tariffs.
The other side: Kelly called Trump's tariffs chaotic and damaging to the U.S. economy, while Gallego urged the president to "stop getting in stupid trade wars."
- Kelly said he hopes Trump changes course, adding he feels bad for his Republican colleagues left to defend the president's tariff policies, joking that some had to flip their long-held positions.
- Gallego predicted that Trump would ultimately strike deals he could use to declare victory.
- Both warned that the U.S. risks becoming less attractive to international trade partners due to Trump's policies.
Threat level: The conversation shifted to health care, where Biggs, who was Arizona Senate president during the 2013 expansion of the state Medicaid program, said there's talk of a potential rollback in Medicaid funding for adults covered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
- The ACA provides 90% of the funding to states for that group, and Biggs said that could be reduced to 70%.
- Arizona could have problems if that happens, he acknowledged.
Yes, but: Arizona's Medicaid expansion law included a trigger that ends the additional coverage if federal matches drop below 80%.
- Kelly said that would kick about 500,000 Arizonans off the program.
- Gallego, who was in the Arizona House during the expansion, said it would hit rural Arizona especially hard.
State of play: Trump's border crackdown was a point of pride for the Republican Congress members on stage.
- Hamadeh said the massive drop in illegal border crossings under Trump shows new legislation wasn't needed, just new leadership.
- Ciscomani said morale among Border Patrol agents has become noticeably better under the Trump administration.