Jim Desmond Supported The One Big Beautiful Bill And Downplayed Concerns About New Requirements For Medicaid

2026: Desmond Supported The One Big Beautiful Bill

May 2026: Desmond Said He Would Fight To Protect Provisions Of The One Big Beautiful Bill

May 2026: Desmond: “I Will Fight To Protect The Tax Relief Secured Under The Working Family Tax Cuts Act.” “Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. […] [Desmond:] I will fight to protect the tax relief secured under the Working Family Tax Cuts Act, cut the regulatory burden on small employers, and promote an environment where innovation and emerging industries can grow and succeed right here in Southern California.” [Orange County Register, 5/5/26]

• Republican Strategists Advised Lawmakers To Rebrand Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill As The “Working Family Tax Cuts.” “For months, President Donald Trump’s main message about the sweeping bill he pushed through Congress was that it was ‘big’ and ‘beautiful.’ […] Two Republican strategists said they are advising lawmakers to sell the act to a wider audience using different titles: the ‘Working Family Tax Cuts’ act or possibly the ‘Trump Working Family Tax Cuts.’” [NBC News, 7/15/25]

March 2026: Desmond Said He Was Happy To Follow In The Footsteps Of Rep. Darrell Issa, Who Voted For The One Big Beautiful Bill

VIDEO: March 2026: “I’m Very Honored To Have Darrell Issa’s Endorsement.” DESMOND: “I’m very honored to have Darrell Issa’s endorsement. We’re sad that he stepped down. He was a great member of Congress, but I’m happy to follow in his footsteps.” [Real America’s Voice, 12:03, 3/9/26] (VIDEO)

VIDEO: March 2026: Desmond Said Of Issa, “He Was A Great Member Of Congress, But I’m Happy To Follow In His Footsteps.” DESMOND: “I’m very honored to have Darrell Issa’s endorsement. We’re sad that he stepped down. He was a great member of Congress, but I’m happy to follow in his footsteps.” [Real America’s Voice, 12:03, 3/9/26] (VIDEO)

July 2025: Rep. Issa Voted For The One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In July 2025, Issa voted for: “Motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill that would permanently extend nearly $4 trillion in expiring individual and business tax cuts, create several new tax breaks and fund border and immigration enforcement and air traffic control upgrades. It would cut Medicaid and other safety net programs to partly offset the cost. Among other provisions, it would raise the statutory debt ceiling by $5 trillion and appropriate more than $448 billion in mandatory funding for Trump administration priorities and other needs, including $153 billion for defense, $89 billion for immigration enforcement, and $89.5 billion for border control and security. It also would increase the state and local tax deduction cap to $40,000 annually for five years for households making up to $500,000 a year until 2030, when it would permanently revert to $10,000.” The motion was agreed to by a vote of 218-214. [H.R. 1, Vote #190, 7/3/25; CQ, 7/3/25]

2025: Desmond Downplayed Concerns About New Work Requirements For Medicaid In The One Big Beautiful Bill

2025: Desmond Downplayed Concerns About New Work Requirements For Medicaid

2025: San Diego Union-Tribune: “Desmond Downplayed Concerns About New Work Requirements For Recipients Of Medicaid And SNAP.” “Desmond downplayed concerns about new work requirements for recipients of Medicaid and SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, pointing to various exemptions.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 11/18/25]

• Desmond Said People Would Not Lose Federal Assistance If They Followed Rules Such As Volunteering Or Enrolling In School. “Supervisor Jim Desmond voted against the proposal on Tuesday. He said it was a great idea for the foundation to pay for part of the contracts, but he felt the board letter's language was too political and somewhat misleading. People won't lose federal assistance if they follow rules such as offering to volunteer or enroll in school, Desmond said. He also took issue with the proposal not needing further board approval. ‘It sounds great, but I'd like to see it before it comes back,’ Desmond added.” [Patch, 11/20/25]

2025: Desmond Said He Supported Better Verification For Medicaid And Medi-Cal Programs. “‘I wish we had unlimited funds to pay for all those things, but we don't,’ said Desmond, who added he supports better verification for Medicaid and Medi-Cal programs to prevent fraud and waste.” [KPBS, 6/24/25]

2025: In Discussing New Eligibility And Work Requirements For Medicaid, Desmond Said They Were Not “Devastating Requirements And Cuts” …

November 2025: In Discussing New Eligibility And Work Requirements For Medicaid And SNAP, Desmond Said, “These Are Described As Devastating Requirements And Cuts,” But “I Think These Are Good Achievable Goals.” “Philanthropic leaders see threats to those needs from Republican-led legislation signed by President Donald Trump that cut funding for Medicaid and food stamps, while imposing new eligibility and work requirements for some people who use the programs. […] Desmond downplayed concerns about new work requirements for recipients of Medicaid and SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, pointing to various exemptions. For Medicaid, exemptions extend to people with children under 13, disabled veterans, people who are medically frail and Native Americans, among others. SNAP recipients are exempt if they have children or certain disabilities, or are a veteran or homeless. ‘These are described as devastating requirements and cuts,’ he said. ‘I think these are good achievable goals. Those who really need the benefits will remain on them.’” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 11/18/25]

…Even Though Desmond Previously Said Thousands Of People Could Lose Coverage When Medi-Cal Redetermined Eligibility Years Before

2023: When Medi-Cal Redetermined Eligibility, Desmond Said Thousands Of People Could Potentially Lose Coverage If They Did Not Update Their Information. “With the State of Emergency ending, Medi-Cal is going to begin the process of redetermining eligibility for Medi-Cal/Covered CA. Thousands of people will have a change in eligibility and could potentially lose their coverage if they don’t take steps to update their information.” [Jim Desmond, Twitter, 2/16/23]

Image: see original report, p. 52

[Jim Desmond, Twitter, 2/16/23]