It’s just step one.
House Republicans have managed to pass a blueprint for their side to start drafting a more definitive plan to suit tRump’s agenda. But they have some hard things to face before they get to the end. Both chambers need to pass something so they can move forward without needing Democrat votes. Right now it’s not looking good, as the Senate blueprint is almost nothing like the House one. The urgent discussions on how to do this have already begun.
Both conferences have a small majority to please before anything can be done. This means that there are people standing against things on both sides. My favorite part is there are Senate members for whom cutting Medicare is a non-starter, period. They range from Josh Hawley (of all people) to Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Thom Tillis, who is up for re-election in North Carolina next year, offered a word of caution for the House Spending cuts. Tillis pointed to his time in the state legislature where they made orderly cuts, not some ridiculous ones that could affect red *and* blue states. That’s impressive. The Senate is not going to approve these deep cuts to put in the Mango Mandarin’s tax cut extension. They likely won’t approve them to increase the debt ceiling, either.
I can see how the Senate won’t accept $1.2 trillion worth of cuts. There certainly doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it and cutting Medicaid is already not going over well. Too many people need that service, just like many people need Social Security, and we haven’t heard if they’re going to make cuts to that, too. I hope not. I’m afraid they will, even though SS is something every American has paid into, so it’s not their money to mess with.
We just don’t know what’s on these blueprints, except for the House making Medicare cuts, to be able to even guess what else is on there. There could be worthy cuts, I suppose. Everything is about trimming the fat and getting rid of people these days. Fortunately, they don’t have to please the Muskrat. What he’s doing has no relation to what the House and Senate are doing and I don’t think they’d appreciate him poking his nose in. I wish we knew more so we’d have a better idea of what might happen to our country over the next 4 years – or longer if tRump gets his way. THAT is scary, it really is. Will we even survive as a country with this crap? I don’t know anymore.
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What’s the difference between Medicaid and Medicare?
Medicare is the government health insurance for Americans age 65 or older, regardless of their income.
Medicaid is primarily for people who have not reached retirement age, and it largely serves the poor. Some who are disabled or older qualify for both types of coverage.
I actually should have put both in, although the article specified Medicaid. It’s supposed to be no cuts to all 3 – Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.
if the Senate confirmed every cabinet member, they will pass this bill or pretty dang close to it.
Ouch. Good point. Well, I can hope…
Well, there is a slight difference: You don’t really have many regular constituents who feel that Cabinet officials really affect their day-to-day lives. But Social Security and Medicaid and Medicare? I guess you’ve forgotten all those images from the early days of the Teabagger movement with the protestors carrying signs declaring “Hands off my Medicare!” and “Hands off my Social Security!” which were almost as numerous as the “Taxed enough already” signs.
one more boycott…. not one mention OF TRUMP. a day without Trump would be priceless