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Scott Perry just had his “Joni Ernst moment.”
In case you missed it, the vulnerable Pennsylvania Republican was caught calling Medicaid a “money laundering” scheme during a recent local TV interview… a slap in the face to his constituents who rely on the program for lifesaving health care, and to the rural Pennsylvania hospitals that rely on funding from Medicaid to keep their doors open.
In case you missed it…
Heartland Signal: Scott Perry calls Medicaid a money laundering scheme
May 30th, 2025
- During an interview with FOX43 News in York, Pa., U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) asserted without evidence that Medicaid is used as a “money laundering” scheme by states.
- During the interview, FOX43 asked Perry about the 140,000+ constituents in his district enrolled in Medicaid potentially being concerned about President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. The budget bill, which passed in the House of Representatives with Perry and 214 other Republicans’ approval, calls for significant cuts to Medicaid. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, as many as 15 million people could lose health insurance over the next ten years if the current form of the bill is signed into law.
- Despite these figures, Perry erroneously claimed that the current form of the bill actually grows the program, which he also said is used as a “money laundering” scheme by states.
- “Even under this current proposal, Medicaid grows by 25% over ten years,” Perry said. “Unfortunately, the states are using it as kind of a money laundering situation.”
- Perry’s office did not immediately respond to a request to explain how the bill grows Medicaid and why he would support growing something he believes to be a “money laundering” scheme.
- In an emailed statement, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Eli Cousin said Perry’s words were an insult to voters after he voted for the Medicaid cuts.
- “Scott Perry calling Medicaid ‘money laundering’ is a massive middle finger to the thousands of his constituents who will lose their health insurance because of his vote to gut the program, and to the rural hospitals across Pennsylvania who rely on Medicaid funding to keep their doors open,” Cousin said. “Maybe Perry should finally come face-to-face with Pennsylvanians and hold an in-person town hall to see what his constituents think about his latest insult.”
- Perry has held several tele-town hall events, a venue where it is easier for politicians to screen and avoid difficult questions from constituents. Like several of his Republican colleagues, he has yet to hold an in-person town hall this year despite voters in his district making it known they want accountability. Constituents have complained of lack of access and transparency from Perry’s office in recent weeks.
- The Big Beautiful Bill in its current form would also distribute tax cuts that will disproportionately benefit the highest income earners in the country, while slashing Medicaid, Medicare and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to pay for the loss in revenue to the government.
- Perry is a former chair of the far-right House Freedom Caucus and a staunch ally of Trump. After the 2020 presidential election, Perry assisted Trump’s efforts to overturn the results.
- Perry is one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the House, and his reelection effort is currently rated a tossup by Cook Political Report. Perry narrowly won his seventh term in Congress last November by 1.2 percentage points (5,133 votes).
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