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.

Republicans in Congress are looking to cut Medicaid to pay for border enforcement and tax cuts that Democrats say will largely benefit the wealthiest.

GOP lawmakers expected to vote soon on slashing the insurance program for low-income people represent tens of millions reliant on it.