Rob Bresnahan, then a candidate for Pennsylvania's 8th U.S. Congressional District, speaks at a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Aug. 17, 2024, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Less than two weeks after pledging to vote “no” on any bill that cuts benefits programs, U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) voted to advance a budget resolution that will likely gut Medicaid and food stamps.

On Feb. 14, Bresnahan made an X post pledging to do what is best for his constituents in northeastern Pennsylvania instead of falling in line with the vast majority of House Republicans:

“I ran for Congress under a promise of always doing what is best for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” the post reads. “If a bill is put in front of me that guts the benefits my neighbors rely on, I will not vote for it. Pennsylvania’s Eighth District chose me to advocate for them in Congress. These benefits are promises that were made to the people of NEPA and where I come from, people keep their word.”

Just eleven days later, Bresnahan and 216 of his Republican colleagues voted for a budget resolution that calls for massive spending cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, the latter of which provides health care to nearly 82 million low-income individuals and Americans with disabilities.

Although the GOP is leaning on the fact that the word “Medicaid” is not included in the bill, the resolution calls for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion of spending. That committee only oversees $200 billion of non-Medicaid spending, meaning the Republican-led House of Representatives must slash Medicaid by at least $680 billion if the resolution is passed into law. Despite President Donald Trump’s pledge to not cut Medicaid, it would be unavoidable under this budget.

Bresnahan’s district, PA-8, comprises of 203,474 constituents covered by Medicaid, and 19% of all households in the district participate in SNAP. The proposed cuts could see as many as 52,000 8th District Medicaid enrollees lose coverage under the new budget. Bresnahan did not immediately provide comment to explain why he changed his mind, but he again took to X after the vote Tuesday night where he claimed his position has not changed.

“Tonight’s vote was just a procedural step to start federal budget negotiations and does NOT change any current laws. I will fight to protect working-class families in Northeastern Pennsylvania and stand with President Trump in opposing gutting Medicaid. My position on this has not and will not change.”

Bresnahan stands to take one of the largest political hits if the budget passes through the GOP-controlled Senate, which must approve the same bill to bypass the chamber’s 60-vote threshold. Bresnahan narrowly flipped a tossup district last November when he defeated Democratic incumbent Matt Cartwright by just 1.6 percentage points (6,252 votes).

Other vulnerable Republicans who represent districts with a high number of Medicaid and SNAP recipients include Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), Rep. John James (R-MI) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA); all voted for the resolution.

All Democrats in the House of Representatives voted against the resolution, and they were joined by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who voted against the budget because it did not include enough cuts.