Collins Did Not ‘Support’ OBBBA’s Medicaid Cuts, as Democratic Ad Claims

Sen. Susan Collins did not support the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), despite claims by a Democratic campaign ad that she did, according to FactCheck.org. The ad, produced by the group Affordable Maine, falsely asserted that Collins “voted to support Donald Trump on the largest Medicaid cut in history.” This claim contradicts public records showing that Collins opposed the bill, citing its adverse effects on Medicaid as the primary reason. The OBBBA, introduced in early 2025, proposed sweeping changes to the U.S. healthcare system, including significant reductions in federal Medicaid spending. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected that the law would decrease Medicaid funding by over $900 billion over a decade. These cuts would result in approximately 7.5 million more Americans becoming uninsured, according to the CBO's analysis. Despite these projections, the bill advanced through Congress, eventually becoming law under President Donald Trump. Collins, a Republican senator representing Maine, played a key role in the legislative process. On July 1, 2025, she joined 47 Democratic senators and two Republicans, Thom Tillis and Rand Paul, in voting against the OBBBA. Her opposition was rooted in concerns over how the legislation would affect Medicaid, a critical component of the U.S. healthcare infrastructure. In a statement released that day, Collins emphasized the importance of Medicaid as a safety net for vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, and low-income families. She noted that nearly a third of Maine’s residents rely on the program and warned that the proposed cuts could jeopardize the viability of rural hospitals. Collins acknowledged that some aspects of the OBBBA were beneficial, particularly the extension of tax relief for families and small businesses. However, she maintained that the Medicaid provisions were too severe and posed a serious threat to public health. Specifically, she highlighted the potential loss of $5.9 billion in Medicaid funding for Maine over the next ten years. She also expressed concern over the elimination of certain energy-saving incentives and tax credits, though these were not central to her decision to oppose the bill. Before the final vote on the OBBBA, Collins participated in a procedural vote on June 28, 2025, which determined whether the bill should move forward. She cast a “yes” vote, aligning with 50 other senators. This procedural vote allowed the bill to reach the Senate floor for debate. It was a strategic move, as the bill required only a simple majority to proceed, and Collins believed that the broader implications of the legislation warranted further scrutiny. The bill ultimately passed when Vice President JD Vance, serving as president of the Senate, cast the deciding vote to break a 50-50 deadlock. After the Senate approved the measure, the House of Representatives passed an amended version of the bill, and President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025. Affordable Maine, the group behind the misleading ad, has spent over $473,000 on advertising efforts since August 12, 2025, according to AdImpact. The ad features an intensive care unit nurse who claims to have witnessed patients being financially ruined by rising healthcare costs. The nurse accuses Collins of supporting Trump’s policies that led to the largest Medicaid cut in history. However, the ad fails to acknowledge that Collins explicitly opposed the bill and did not endorse the policy changes it proposed. As the election approaches, Collins faces a tough race against Democrat Troy Jackson, a former state Senate president. The controversy surrounding the OBBBA and its impact on Medicaid continues to shape the political landscape in Maine.