U.S. Rep Mike Haridopolos: the truth about Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security

Floridians deserve clarity and real solutions when it comes to the programs they depend on — Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. As your representative in Congress, I believe it’s time to cut through the noise and explain exactly what we are doing with the One Big Beautiful Bill.

I ran for Congress to protect the programs hard-working Americans earned, not to tear them down. I’ve said it plainly before, and I will say it again here: I do not support cuts to Social Security or Medicare. These are earned benefits. These programs are funded by the taxes you’ve paid on every paycheck you’ve earned over your working lifetime. They are not gifts from Washington. They are promises made, and I will keep them.

Unfortunately, sometimes facts don’t make the headlines. What grabs attention too often are scare tactics designed to stoke fear and score political points. In a state like Florida, where millions of seniors depend on these programs to live with dignity, that is irresponsible.

This legislation strengthens Medicaid by protecting it for the truly vulnerable: children of low-income parents, pregnant women, seniors in nursing homes, and individuals with disabilities. It makes sure the system is sustainable by cracking down on fraud and abuse, something every taxpayer should support. The only individuals who could lose coverage under this legislation are those who were never eligible to begin with: illegal immigrants, fraudulent applicants, and able-bodied adults who refuse to work. That’s just common sense.

We apply that same logic to SNAP. No one is proposing cuts for children, the elderly, or people with disabilities. But if someone is a healthy adult with no dependents, we are asking that they meet a basic work requirement to continue receiving these benefits. Currently, only 28% of able-bodied adults without dependents on SNAP have an earned income. This is not about punishment: too many people who can work simply aren’t doing so. This is about helping people reenter the workforce, regain independence, and build a better life. SNAP is meant to be a safety net, not a permanent lifestyle.

Some critics have claimed these reforms are somehow heartless. I argue the opposite. It is not compassionate to allow a broken system to remain broken when so many people rely on it. It is not compassionate to encourage dependency when people are capable of working. It is not compassionate to let fraud siphon off resources meant for those truly in need. We cannot allow taxpayers to subsidize those who are able to but refuse to work.

We campaigned on bringing common sense back to Washington D.C. and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in our federal government. I am keeping that promise. The One Big Beautiful Bill is about protecting what we have earned and securing a better future for all Americans.

As always, it is an honor to serve you in Congress and I want to hear from you. You can reach out to my office at (202) 225-3671 or visit my website, haridopolos.house.gov, to stay up to date on how I am fighting for you in Washington.