The Washington Post reported June 19 that House Republicans released a proposal to balance the budget in nine years by making cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is the government health program for seniors and disabled workers who have paid into the system for years, and Medicaid is a government healthcare program for the poor. By targeting these two programs it is clear House Republicans are looking to balance the budget on the backs of seniors, the disabled and the poor.
The story reported that the House Budget Committee planed to pass the measure this week, but it remains unclear whether Republican Party leaders will allow the measure to get a vote on the House floor. President Donald Trump has previously said he would not touch Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid.
The House Republicans have shown they intend to tackle the nation’s rising deficits and debt, which is loaded with hypocrisy considering the recent Republican tax bill that passed was packed with initiatives that would increase deficits and the debt. Some analysis shows that the tax bill could increase the nation’s debt by at least $1 trillion.
In the story printed by the Washington Post the top Democrat on the Budget Committee, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, (D-Kentucky) said this is a clear indication that Republican policies are going after the middle class and the poor.
“The 2019 Republican budget scraps any sense of responsibility to the American people and any obligation to be honest,” he said. “its repeal of the Affordable Care Act and extreme cuts to health care, retirement security, anti-poverty programs, education, infrastructure, and other critical investments are real and will inflict serious harm on American families.”
Other cuts included in the Republican budget proposal call for a $230 billion reduction in education and training programs, including consolidating student loan programs and reducing Pell Grant awards.
