Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith says she some major concerns about the Republican-backed plan that could cut $1.5 trillion in federal spending over the next decade, possibly impacting Medicaid.

Some Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature sounded the alarm about potential federal cuts to Medicaid, which could be at risk after the U.S. House passed a budget framework that includes slashing federal spending.

House GOP efforts to slash the popular social safety net would give Democrats fodder for the midterm elections.

Congressional Republicans are eyeing changes to the nation’s largest health insurance program, which 1.2 million Minnesotans rely on.

More than a dozen Republican state legislators warned U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer and other Minnesota party members in Congress against making deep Medicaid cuts, writing in a pointed letter that “this is contrary to how we Republicans respect the aged and the vulnerable.

About one in five Minnesotans are on Medicaid. That shakes out to about one in six adults and three in 10 children. Dr. Marc Gorelick, CEO of Children’s Minnesota, told MPR News on Wednesday about half of his hospital system’s patients are covered by Minnesota Medical Assistance — the state’s Medicaid program for people with low income.

As a Republican proposal moves forward for sweeping cuts to Medicaid, doctors in Minnesota say it would harm “the backbone of our health care system.”

Democrats are pushing back over a Republican budget blueprint that could cut $880 billion from Medicaid, which provides health care to 1 in 5 Minnesotans.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith is speaking on Thursday against the Republican-backed plan that could cut $1.5 trillion in federal spending over the next decade, possibly impacting Medicaid.

The resolution includes massive reductions in federal spending, which experts say is highly unlikely to be achieved without cuts to Medicaid.

Minnesota’s Republican congressional delegation all voted to approve the U.S. House’s budget proposal Tuesday night, a vote some state Republican legislators attempted to inform when they urged their federal colleagues to consider the expected harm to Minnesota from Medicaid cuts.

Projections from Minnesota Department of Management and Budget say Medicaid funding could be impacted. SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The Senate Finance Committee met Thursday morning at the Senate Building in St. Paul to review the latest numbers regarding possible federal cuts and their potential impact on the Minnesota state budget.