Rep. Kim Blatantly Lies to Constituents by Voting for Republican Budget, CUTTING Medicaid and MEDICARE

Tustin, CA – Last night, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed among the most destructive  budgets in American history on a razor thin vote of 215 - 214. Rep. Young Kim cast the deciding vote for the bill, which decimates Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and MEDICARE in order to  increase America’s debt and lower taxes for the wealthiest 1% of Americans.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says that the bill would cut $500 billion to Medicare, a critical program for seniors and people with disabilities. 

Rep. Young Kim is also on record saying that Medicaid cuts will not get her support in the federal budget process. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that last night’s legislation would cause 8.6 million more Americans to be uninsured by the end of the decade, while cutting Medicaid by more than $700 billion; Young Kim blatantly lied to support Trump over her constituents:

Lie:

Reality:

“Time and again, Young Kim shows us that she will make the difference to bring Trump over the finish line regardless of the devastation it causes her own constituents, and blatantly lie to do so,” said Esther Kim Varet. “Rep. Kim is literally on record saying she won’t vote for Medicaid cuts, yet she caved to be the swing vote, passing a bill that makes severe cuts. Rep. Kim critically sold out our seniors by supporting a bill that cuts $500 billion to Medicare. We are tired of the lies and the lopsided budget priorities. As our Representative, I will not lie to my constituents, or cut taxes for the very wealthiest Americans, while cutting programs my constituents need.”

Earlier this year, at Trump’s urging, Young Kim voted for a party-line budget bill that axed $1.33B in healthcare funding for CA-40 alone, which resulted in the loss of healthcare for 41,000 CA-40 residents. 

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California’s 40th is a Congressional District representing portions of Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County in Southern California. CA-40’s constituents voted for Joe Biden over Donald Trump in 2020. House Majority PAC lists CA-40 as a top target, the DCCC lists CA-40 as a “District in Play”, and the Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index (PVI) ranks the district as one of the 10 most vulnerable House seats with a Republican incumbent in the nation. Esther Kim Varet raised over $1 million in Q1 2025, outpacing the combined Democratic field by over 3.2x.

Incumbent Republican Young Kim’s support for MAGA policies, including a federal ban on abortion even in cases of rape and incest, support of the GOP budget bill that would strip 40,000+ of her constituents from Medicaid, blocking legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and rejection of common sense gun safety, have made Kim extremely vulnerable. In contrast, Esther Kim Varet will always vote to protect women’s right to choose, provide access to healthcare, lower prescription drug costs, and support responsible gun safety.

CA-40 includes the cities of Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills, Orange, Chino Hills, Tustin, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Villa Park, Lake Forest, the unincorporated communities of North Tustin and Coto de Caza, and parts of Brea and Corona.