The House-passed “clean” money bill, rejected by the Senate, contained a hidden cut of almost $491 billion in Medicare payments over the next decade, according to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. This cut would be triggered by the “Pay As You Go” budget act, due to the bill’s impact on the national debt. This move, coupled with the expiration of an Affordable Care Act tax subsidy, could significantly raise healthcare costs for millions. The potential Medicare cuts, along with the threat of government shutdown, were not addressed in the House bill, as Congress and the Trump administration face political impasse.
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Despite a narrowly passed House spending bill, a government shutdown looms as Senate Democrats, led by Senator Schumer, refuse to allow the bill to proceed. Public opinion polls indicate that Republicans would bear the brunt of the blame for a shutdown, despite Democratic obstruction. The bill’s passage requires 60 Senate votes, a threshold Republicans are unlikely to reach given existing opposition. This political impasse leaves a government shutdown increasingly likely.
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Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told Meet the Press that federal disaster relief for California’s wildfires is not guaranteed. He linked funding to a review of what he termed “foolish policy decisions.” The conditional offer suggests disaster aid may be contingent upon policy changes in California. Johnson’s statement highlights a potential political impasse over wildfire relief funding.
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John Q. Hosedrinker