Republicans splinter on Medicaid cuts in tax plan

Senate Moving to Amend House Blueprint

Days after Trump administration officials met with House and Senate tax writers and leaders to align on a strategy to extend the 2017 GOP tax law, cracks are emerging.

Senate Republicans want to pare back cuts to the Medicaid health program for the poor and disabled that could come from the House-adopted budget blueprint, amid fears of a public backlash.

GOP senators from states with big Medicaid populations—including West Virginia, Alabama, and Missouri—have expressed dismay at potential cuts to the program.

Such a move could isolate spending hawks in the House. The House-adopted budget ...