WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Democrats and Republicans in Congress say potential cuts to rural hospitals poison President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget bill.

The Senate version of the package includes a Medicaid cut that would reduce what’s known as the provider tax for states.

“Half of the hospitals in my state are rural,” said U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, (R-Mo.). “I grew up in a town of 4,000 people. I’ve lived this. This is a problem.” 

“Threatening at least nine at-risk rural hospitals across the state,” said U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, (D-Ill.).

Kelly said the proposed cuts couldn’t come at a worse time for Illinois and the rest of the country.

“Right now, our country is in the middle of a maternal mortality crisis, and Medicaid covers half of births nationwide,” she said.

A report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform found one-third of all rural hospitals face closures.

“It’s just a proposal so it’s too early to talk about what is going to happen and what’s not,” said U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, (R-Okla.).

Mullin said there’s still time to negotiate, and Hawley said there’s a compromise: the House version of the bill that freezes the tax instead of reducing it.

“I would think that would be easy to do,” Hawley said. “That’s what probably our leadership should have done.”

The White House wouldn’t say whether the president would sign a bill with the cuts.

“I won’t comment on that specific provision,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “Look, the bill hasn’t been sent to the president’s desk yet. There’s more room for change.”

However, President Trump still wants the legislation passed by July 4, and Senate staffers are working through the weekend to try to meet that deadline.