Senate Republicans cut the deals needed to pass Trump’s tax bill with Vice President Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. This bill will cut Medicaid by $930 billion in order to help cover the cost of big tax cuts primarily for the ultra-rich. The bill also will increase the debt by more than $4 trillion by 2034. The bill still needs to pass in the House in order to become law.
The conservative Committee for a Responsible Budget says the bill “fails evert test of fiscal responsibility.” If passed, it would add $600 billion to the deficit in 2027 alone. It also does not comply with the House instructions to include $2 trillion in spending cuts in exchange for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. When you add in additional spending, Senate cuts total just $400 billion.
Over the weekend, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore. said: “While Republican senators are securing baubles and trinkets for their political donors, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that the Senate bill will cut $930 billion from Medicaid. Just as before, these cruel cuts to Americans’ health care will strike a mortal blow to rural health care, and threaten the health and safety of kids, seniors, Americans with disabilities, and working families across the country. Life and death decisions of this magnitude should not be subjected to this rushed and reckless process. I urge Republican senators not to travel down this dangerous path: there is no band-aid that can heal these dangerous, deadly cuts.”
To be sure, Republicans pay no heed to Ron Wyden or any other fellow Democrat. And, in voting to pass the bill, they appear only to have listened to their wealthiest constituents. But, it’s still not too late to stop this bill from becoming law. Please call your representatives in the House and let them know what you think of their plan to push more than 17 million Americans into the ranks of the uninsured and, in the process, to drive up health care costs, decimate hospitals and nursing homes and leave thousands of people to die needlessly.
Please call (202) 224-3121 right now and ask to speak with your Congressman. Here’s what you can tell them: “As your constituent, I am appalled that you would vote to slash Medicaid and give massive handouts to millionaires and billionaires. I will be watching your votes and keeping them in mind for your next election campaign. Please vote No on all Medicaid cuts.”
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Republican bill would increase medical debt significantly
- Republican Medicaid reform proposals devastating
- Proposed Medicaid cuts imperil access to hospital care for all Americans and drive up costs
- House reconciliation bill would push millions off Medicaid
- The Senate reconciliation bill likely won’t target waste in Medicare Advantage
