House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith pushes CR to fund government through Dec. 11
Source: Fox Business · All Fox Business reports
Why this grade: Graded B+: core claims on the OBBBA legislation, debt threshold, and Senate CR verified by primary records and reporting; minor issues include slightly overstated Medicaid enrollment peak and selective framing of spending growth causes.
Why this lean: Relies on Republican chairman framing the bill positively as delivering 'largest mandatory spending cuts' while attributing enrollment growth primarily to pandemic rules without counter-context on pre-pandemic trends or state variations.
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Summary
The segment features Rep. Jason Smith, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, discussing the short window before the November 2026 midterms. It focuses on passing a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 11 and avoiding a shutdown. Smith highlights the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's tax extensions, mandatory spending cuts, and welfare reforms including work requirements. The host raises concerns about exploding welfare enrollment and spending since 2000, citing Medicaid growth from 35 million to 100 million enrollees and spending from $206 billion to $964 billion. Smith notes the bill's reforms exceed the 1996 welfare law in impact and affirms ongoing tax cut efforts.
Editorial Assessment
The interview accurately describes the OBBBA's passage in July 2025 with tax extensions and spending offsets, plus the recent Senate CR. Debt crossing $40 trillion is confirmed. Medicaid figures are directionally correct but enrollment reached roughly 75-80 million recently rather than 100 million. The segment omits that OBBBA also raises the debt limit and projects net deficit increases per CBO analyses. Framing emphasizes waste and fraud while downplaying pandemic-era policy drivers and post-unwinding declines. Viewers miss balanced estimates of the bill's long-term fiscal effects and enrollment drivers.
Key Moments
Senate passed CR funding government until December 11; House to address it before midterms
Senate passed the measure in early August 2026 by 90-6 vote; House consideration followed.
One Big Beautiful Bill delivered the largest mandatory spending cuts in US history plus welfare reforms like work requirements
OBBBA (P.L. 119-21) signed July 2025 extended TCJA cuts, added work requirements for SNAP/Medicaid, and included ~$1T+ in offsets per committee reports.
US debt crossed over $40 trillion
Treasury data shows gross debt exceeded $40 trillion in August 2026.
Medicaid enrollment grew from 35 million to 100 million and spending from $206 billion to $964 billion (2000-2025)
Enrollment grew substantially to ~75-80 million by late 2025; spending rose sharply but exact figures align more closely with federal outlays over the period including pandemic expansion.
Notable Concerns
- Medicaid enrollment and spending totals presented without full recent data context or pandemic policy background