STEPPING ASIDE. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter is stepping down as chair of a key House subcommittee after he oversaw the GOP’s plan to cut about $1 trillion from Medicaid as part of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”

It was a political gamble for Carter to oversee perhaps the most controversial portion of Trump’s legislation while also planning a run for U.S. Senate in a swing state. Now, it will be up to voters to decide if it pays off.

Carter’s stance could help distinguish himself in a competitive Republican primary next summer. But if he were to win the primary, Carter’s role in the legislation would give U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., lots of ammunition to criticize him for steep cuts to a government program that insures more than 2.2 million people in Georgia.

Still, Carter hasn’t shied away from his role, telling the "Politically Georgia" podcast earlier this year that he wished the cuts to Medicaid were even deeper. He said he’s stepping down as chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health because he couldn’t do the job and run a statewide campaign at the same time.

“Georgia is a big state, and this is important race, and I have got to focus on that,” Carter told Tia Mitchell on Wednesday. “And, quite honestly, that’s such a such an important committee and such an important position that the committee deserves somebody who can give it their undivided attention.”

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