LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One of the architects behind the cutbacks to Medicaid is defending what he calls necessary reforms to the federal health insurance program.

U.S. Rep Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) says it's time state governments pay their fair share.

"The federal taxpayer can't do it. We have a trillion dollar budget deficit, and [the states] know they have to do more. We'll see what the [Kentucky] governor wants to do," Guthrie told WHAS11 in a one-on-one interview.

Guthrie chairs the House committee that led the charge in drafting future reductions in Medicaid spending in President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill.

"We're just talking about going back to 2021 numbers and still growing your Medicaid. We would still pay 90 percent," he said. "What we're asking the state is to pay their fair share

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