Valadao Backed Medicaid Work Rules His Own Voters May Dodge

Rep. David Valadao, a California Republican whose seat could decide control of Congress, voted for the GOP's One Big Beautiful Bill, which is projected to reduce Medicaid spending by roughly $900 billion. Now he is telling constituents that many of them may not have to follow the law's new work requirements, according to KFF Health News.

The tension is local. Valadao's 22nd District in the Central Valley is one of the most Medicaid-dependent in the country, with about two-thirds of residents enrolled in Medi-Cal. The new law requires many adults to prove they are working, volunteering, or in school to keep coverage, but it carves out exemptions, including for areas with high unemployment. Much of Valadao's farm-heavy district, where seasonal joblessness runs high, could qualify.

The episode shows the gap between national policy and local impact. Work requirements add paperwork and eligibility checks that states must build and administer, and coverage losses often stem from red tape rather than from people refusing to work.