Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) told a Democratic witness at a congressional hearing to “put down the bong” for denying the pervasiveness of financial fraud in Medicaid, the joint state-federal health insurance program for low-income people. 

Andy Schneider, professor of public policy at Georgetown University, received a tongue-lashing from Kennedy on Tuesday for saying he did not believe states were “cheating” in their administration of Medicaid by allowing noneligible people to stay on the program.

Recommended Stories

How the Big Beautiful Bill became law: Medicaid battle intensifies

Medicaid reductions will affect seniors despite no cuts to Medicare

Growth in rural hospitals undercuts Democratic attacks on GOP One Big Beautiful Bill