Scott Jennings appears flabbergasted CNN host doesn’t appear to understand key concept about major gov’t program

Republican strategist Scott Jennings appeared stunned Tuesday when CNN host Abby Phillip appeared to not understand that Medicaid was not intended to be a long-term solution for Americans who are struggling.

The House Budget Committee approved a version of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” Sunday that would extend the 2017 tax cuts, stop taxing tips and overtime and also fund Trump’s priorities, including an expansion of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Phillip questioned former Trump administration official Stephen Moore about the reforms, asking if it was about finding savings for tax cuts, before Jennings cut in.

“Yes, but isn‘t it the point that you want people to go to work?” Jennings asked Phillip, who responded, “Okay — no, no, no —”

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“Do you want them trapped in this forever? Is that not the point?” Jennings asked, with Phillip responding, “Scott, I‘ll ask you the exact same question I asked Stephen. Isn‘t it the point that they want to save money?”

Republicans in Congress are trying to add work requirements for able-bodied adults to the reconciliation package while also trying to keep illegal immigrants from benefitting from the program. The proposed reforms, if enacted into law, could save $625 billion over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

“Yes,” Jennings said in response to Phillip’s question, prompting Phillip to ask, “So, in order to save money, you’ve got to get people off the program. How is that not taking people off the program?”

“Because the goal of Medicaid is not to trap people. It’s to — it’s not supposed to be a lifestyle. It’s supposed to be a temporary deal,” Jenning said. “So, yes, we don’t want to trap people on Medicaid. We want to get them to go to the workplace. And, I mean, there are able-bodied people all over this country who do nothing.”

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