House Republicans are reportedly weighing significant health care cuts to finance tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations
Washington: So, it looks like congressional Republicans are cooking up some pretty controversial plans for the year. They’re talking about tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations, and guess what? Those aren’t going to pay for themselves.
Now, the big question is how they plan to cover these costs. Historically, the GOP has been okay with racking up debt to push their agenda, but this time they’re at least pretending to care about fiscal responsibility.
According to a report from Politico, House Republicans are passing around a “menu” of over $5 trillion in potential cuts. This list includes some pretty drastic changes to Medicare and even cutting back on climate programs. They’re also looking at slashing welfare and reworking the Affordable Care Act.
While we can’t verify all the details yet, it’s clear that if they go through with these cuts, they could save between $5.3 trillion and $5.7 trillion over the next decade. And that money would go straight to funding tax breaks for those who really don’t need them.
What’s wild is how they’re framing these cuts. For instance, they’re calling cuts to Medicaid “Making Medicaid Work For The Most Vulnerable.” It’s like they think if they dress it up nicely, people won’t notice the impact.
But here’s the kicker: the GOP’s majority is super slim right now. If just a few members decide they can’t support these cuts, the whole plan could fall apart. It’s a risky game, especially for those in competitive districts.
When asked about the cuts, one senior GOP lawmaker admitted that they all feel pretty controversial. With such a tight margin, it’s clear that GOP leaders have a lot to worry about.
