Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said Thursday that the Republican healthcare plan "absolutely" helps low-income people in the United States.
"It gives more authority back to the states to manage their Medicaid population," the Texas senator told Wolf Blitzer on CNN. "This is the most vulnerable part of our population who needs access to healthcare.
"We're committed to making sure they get it, but we want to give the states more flexibility to come up with the best plans to deal with the Medicaid population."
Senate GOP leaders introduced the chamber's version of the American Health Care Act weeks after a 13-member working group crafted it behind closed doors.
The proposal was immediately slammed by four Republican senators – Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin – all of whom said they would not support it.
Paul, for instance, noted the legislation did not reduce the number of Americans on Medicaid, but instead increases it.
Cornyn disagreed.
"We also have taken the special care to deal with children who are disabled who receive benefits under Medicaid," he told Blitzer.
"I think we've done a pretty good job at keeping our promises under Medicaid."
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