Schweikert voted for a bill that directed the House Energy and Commerce Committee to make $880 billion worth of cuts. It has been widely reported that House Republicans would have to cut Medicaid in order to achieve that goal. Schweikert has also offered his own budget proposals that included $900 billion worth of cuts in the form of Medicaid per capita caps, which would slash funding and likely force states to cut benefits. Schweikert has voted to cut Arizonans’ access to affordable health care in the past when he voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which allowed states to expand Medicaid. More than 71,000 Arizonans, or 11 percent of Schweikert’s district get their health insurance through Medicaid or CHIP.
Schweikert supported the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), saying it was doing “great stuff” despite the devastating impacts it was having on Arizona. The Trump administration’s cuts have resulted in layoffs, longer wait times, and frequent website outages at the Social Security Administration. Schweikert has previously supported attacks on Social Security. In 2023, he gave a floor speech during which he suggested it would be the “end of your republic” if congress wasn’t willing to make cuts to Social Security. In 2017, Schweikert also voted for an amendment that sought to pass the Republican Study Committee’s proposed budget, which called to raise the normal retirement age to 69-years-old. More than 167,000 Arizonans relied on Social Security benefits in Schweikert’s district.
Schweikert has repeatedly voted against lowering prescription drug costs for seniors in his district. He voted three separate times against allowing Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs for seniors. The Inflation Reduction Act, which Schweikert voted against, benefited more than 164,000 Arizonans.
Schweikert has a history of violating ethics and campaign finance rules. In 2020 he was formally reprimanded by the House and fined $50,000 after the House Ethics Committee found he violated 11 different ethics rules. In 2022, the Federal Election Commission fined him $125,000 for “knowingly and willingly” violating campaign finance rules. In 2022, his campaign consultant got sued over inappropriate campaign materials that suggested Schweikert's opponent was gay. The consultant was forced to pay $50,000 to settle the lawsuit.
Schweikert Backed DOGE Despite Its Impacts To Federal Workers, Social Security, And Veterans’ Care
Schweikert Embodied The Swamp By Violating House Ethics And Campaign Finance Rules
Schweikert's Votes As A Member Of Congress