There's a mid-March deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown, and hesitation is surfacing among congressional Republicans about potential cuts to Medicaid.

The possibility of Medicaid cuts has become a headache for the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress — and has handed Democrats a potent issue ahead of 2026 elections.

The thoughtful letter spearheaded by an Anoka County Republican is commendably blunt about putting this safety net program serving seniors, the disabled and the poor in budget crosshairs.

The Republican-controlled Congress is hoping to pass a spending plan, calling for $2 trillion cuts, but Medicaid could be a top target. As Our Quad Cities News Illinois Capitol Bureau Chief Cole Henke reports,