DENVER (KDVR) — U.S. Congressman Gabe Evans has been facing backlash from constituents who rallied outside his Northglenn office at least twice in the past month to tell the representative to vote against any U.S. House budget resolution that cuts Medicaid funding.

On Tuesday night, he voted in favor of a budget resolution that would do just that in a 217-215 vote, with all Democrats in the House voting in opposition.

With a push from President Donald Trump, House Republicans sent the GOP budget blueprint to passage Tuesday, taking another step toward delivering his “big, beautiful bill” with $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $2 trillion in spending cuts despite discomfort among some Republicans.

Even as they press ahead, Republicans are running into a familiar problem: Slashing federal spending is typically easier said than done. With cuts to the Pentagon and other programs largely off limits, much of the other government outlays go for health care, food stamps, student loans and programs relied on by their constituents.

Several Republican lawmakers worry the scope of the cuts being eyed — particularly some $880 billion to the committee that handles health care spending, including Medicaid, for example, or $230 billion to the agriculture committee that funds food stamps — will be too harmful to their constituents.

GOP leaders insist Medicaid is not specifically listed in the initial 60-page budget framework, which is true. Johnson and his leadership team also told lawmakers they would have plenty of time to debate the details as they shape the final package.

But lawmakers wanted assurances the health care program and others will be protected as the plans are developed and merged with the Senate in the weeks to come.

Evans defends vote on House budget resolution

Evans said in a statement he voted in favor because he supported several issues in the measure, such as addressing the fentanyl trafficking problem in the U.S., promoting domestic manufacturing and updating internet policy to reflect current infrastructure.

He said that he believes the House Budget Resolution will lead to ensuring a long-term sustainable solution for Medicare and Medicaid. According to the Colorado Democratic Party, there are about 73,000 Medicaid recipients in District 8, which Evans represents.

“It has been repeatedly stated the plan is to focus on waste, fraud, and abuse within Medicaid and not cut benefits. Medicaid cuts aren’t specifically listed in the resolution,” a press release from Evans’ office stated. “Those who conflate the two are more interested in stoking fear amongst Colorado’s most vulnerable instead of telling the truth.”

In a short video posted to X, Evans did not address Medicaid concerns. He said the measure would ensure Coloradans do not see an increase in taxes and protect the Child Tax Credit.

Colorado Democrats decry House resolution’s impacts

After the vote, many politicians released statements about the resolution.

Congresswoman Diana DeGette, a Democrat representing Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, called the measure a “budget scam” and said House Republicans are “lying to the American people.”

“Although they claim they won’t touch Medicaid, they can’t pay for their tax giveaways to billionaires and corporations without deep cuts. They have directed my committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid, to cut $880 billion. These cuts can only come at the expense of our seniors, kids, and most vulnerable,” DeGette said in an emailed statement.

“When this bill comes to my committee, I will fight to expose the danger these cuts pose to my constituents and all Americans. House Democrats will stand united against these extreme cuts,” she added.

Rep. Brittany Pettersen, a Democrat representing Colorado’s 7th District, also voted against the budget resolution.

“They want to rip away health care from 400,000 CO kids, take food off the plates of seniors & veterans, and make life more expensive for hardworking Coloradans – all so they can give tax breaks to corporations and billionaires like Elon Musk,” she wrote on X.

She also emailed a statement regarding the measure.

“While they promised to lower costs on ‘Day One,’ this cruel and dangerous budget only makes life more expensive and hurts those who need our support the most, ripping away health care, education, food assistance, and more – all to give tax breaks to corporations and billionaires like Elon Musk. Republicans say that they care about the deficit, but this proposal would add to it by over $3 trillion,” Pettersen said.

Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat representing Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, called the vote outcome “shameful.”

Rep. Jeff Crank, a Republican representing the 5th Congressional District, did not post a statement to X but did repost a House GOP post touting that the governmental body had kept “reconciliation moving forward.”

Rep. Jeff Hurd, a Republican representing Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, also voted in favor of the budget resolution.

The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for a final vote.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.