Congressman Rick Allen pushes back on Georgia healthcare budget cut claims

STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) - Republican Congressman Rick Allen is responding to concerns about healthcare funding being cut for local hospitals.

WTOC was the only station there when Congressman Rick Allen stopped by a local restaurant here in Statesboro to talk about how the One Big Beautiful Bill will impact small businesses.

“Small businesses employs 50% of the American people,” said Allen.

His visit Thursday afternoon about the Big Beautiful Bill which President Trump signed into law last month.

He highlighted the “no tax on tips” provision which will impact small businesses and the people employed there.

“That’s worth $1,300 more cash money to you a year and that’s a big deal,” said Allen. “Everybody, everybody is at the end of the week, struggling.”

The tax on tips provision went into effect July 1.

That means tips earned throughout the year will not be subject to federal income tax.

The visit comes just days after Senator Raphael Warnock stood with healthcare leaders in nearby Evans County.

“We are forced to think about issues and services that we would need to cut, ICU would be one that would fall quickly on the list,” said Bill Lee, CEO of Evans Memorial Hospital.

The CEO of Evans Memorial says they’re facing millions of dollars in budget cuts because of the new law.

Reporter: Do you think supporting this bill is going to impact people healthcare wise?

“Not in Georgia,” said Allen. “No, Georgia didn’t expand Medicaid. He’s dead wrong there. It’s only in expansion states.”

He told me it’s states like California and New York that will see the impact.