In Sickness and in Hell
Taking on the latest Republican talking points against Medicaid
In a recent post, I tackled Republican talking points that were circulating after they voted on the Big Beautiful Bill(ionaire Tax Cut). I thought that would be the end of it, but here we are for round 2 because a new list of talking points is making its way around.
WORD OF WARNING: Medicaid is WONKIER than the owner of a chocolate factory. Republicans rely on all the lingo to make your eyes roll into the back of your head and make you think this is nothing to worry about.
In today’s post, I’ll make it as digestible as possible - even if you have Crohn’s. So, let’s dive into the email I received from Representative Rob Wittman, a Republican Rep from Virginia. Let me know if you received a similar email in the comments below.
TL,DR: The House bill guts Medicaid by $716 billion and kicks millions off coverage while handing the rich tax breaks.
Miss the information?
The misinformation he’s talking about is coming from him. The call is coming from inside the House.
$716 billion cut =/= savings
He avoids mentioning the $716 billion cut to Medicaid, which is reported by the Congressional Budget Office. Representative Wittman also avoids mentioning anything that actually puts an end to waste, fraud, and abuse.
That $716 billion cut would result in 9.7 million to 14.4 million people possibly losing Medicaid coverage by 2034. Why are all these people losing Medicaid? Because they can’t meet the ridiculousness that is forced work aka Medicaid Work Requirements. This stupid bill proposes that able-bodied people between the ages of 19-64 without dependents should be working 80 hours a month in the month before they apply for Medicaid and then continue to work at least 80 hours a month to remain eligible.
That $716 billion isn’t a savings because people have found good jobs with benefits and no longer need Medicaid; it’s a cut because people can’t meet the forced work and are thus kicked off the program.
THAT”S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CUT AND SAVINGS.
Coffee break.
Impacted People
See above - the forced work provision will impact people between 19-64, so yes, elderly folks will be impacted. He admits that the system is burdened but does nothing to invest money into the system to improve it. Able-bodied adults are not sitting around, enjoying the high-life that is a few dollars of SNAP and health care from Medicaid.
Rep. Wittman is avoiding the issue of people impacted like the plague - and for good measure because we may not have the health care coverage needed for that. According to the Congressional Budget Office, at least 13.7 million people would end up uninsured.
Undocumented citizens are not eligible for Medicaid. However, states -which Republicans typically say are ‘laboratories for democracy” - can use their own budget to pay for healthcare for this group. The House bill proposes to decrease the federal match from 90 to 80 percent for the states that help undocumented immigrants. The 14 states currently helping undocumented immigrants with healthcare would likely be unable to budget for this and would need to pull out.
So much for states’ rights.
The wild thing here is that undocumented immigrants pay upwards of $100 million in taxes. Yet, Republicans write them off completely, claiming the programs should go to Americans in need. But when Americans in need show up, they force them to work. So on one hand, you have immigrants who work and are not eligible and on the other hand you have Americans who don’t work and are not eligible. Remember: these are not savings, they’re cuts.
Force Work =/= WorkForce
Work requirements don’t create hard work, they create paperwork. Look at that list of exceptions. Think about the understaffed agency workers who are working feverishly to keep up with all the applications, process complicated formulas, and on top of it all, they now need to scan for more requirements. This is going to create a lot of errors, Republicans will claim the program is inefficient, vote to cut more of it, rinse and repeat.
The bill does nothing to help with job creation. It slashes and burns everything but does nothing to invest into success. For example, if it moved the federal minimum wage up from it’s sorely outdated $7.25, it would help people get jobs with living wages, perhaps benefits, and ultimately no longer required Medicaid.
Bill is Short for Billionaire
Someone tell Rep Wittman that he represents CD-1, not to be a seedy one. The tax cuts mean nothing for the poorest 40% of households because the tariffs take any net benefit away and create MORE costs. These households lose while the richest 20% fare far better - they get more in tax cuts than tariffs would cost. Extending TCJA gives a net benefit to the wealthiest people in the world. And it gives a tax cut to the wealthiest people at a time when our debt is massive. This is the very moment we should be taxing those with the most a fair, progressive rate so that the debt can go down.
And again, he mentions waste, fraud and abuse without mentioning what it actually is.
Call to Action
Share this piece with family and friends who have Republican representatives. Inform the masses.
They also don’t want anyone to know the cuts are AFTER the midterms should we be so lucky.
Voters once again will go to the ballot box without critical understanding of this. Like no trials on three grand jury indictments which would have swung the electorate up to 25%.
If the states must pay for everything then we’ll pay state income tax.
Raise FICA so Musk isn’t paying what I do. He pays a load more. No cuts.
Today, yesterday, he posts the GROWTH IS COMING. Who believes that? Who signs a budget with no revenue?
It’s p2025 and intended. But Trump never knew P2025 or Heritage. He’s got no mandate. He is pure unadulterated ignorant because all he wants is Alcatraz opened where ALPHONSE got out due to untreated syphilis and died of brain damage.
Drugs, incompetence, no accountability, no transparency, no integrity, he gets no deference.
If Vought/Musk have gutted the government why does Medicaid need any cuts?
The budget has no revenue balance. It’s a get sick and die bill.
Every Senator knows better but a few. What does Lisa Murkowski mean they’re scared?
I know it’s more than primary candidates.
I have to upgrade and I will later today as I’m drifting off!! Hard days with the damage, destruction, devastation, deviation, the lack of humanity.
I recently heard a story of a young man who died & also had insurance for not having his inhaler covered which was 500.00 $'s. From how it was reported supposedly there were a few generic options available but that somehow that did not get translated to him or physician either. This is only one example I cannot even begin to fathom all of the others to come. Don't you really get tired of all the supposed American exceptionalisms. Far to many other countries do not have this health care problem. In fact if your traveling out of the country & need medical care it's cheaper than in our own country but don't mind me I'm old enough to remember when ins covered most things & didn't bankrupt, kill or deny coverage. I also know why people were cutting their medications in half or not taking them as prescribed ie skipping days because of lack of affordability some even crossing borders to get them cheaper. Beyond any good reasoning or good sense to be sure. Most other countries have already figured out that a healthy country is also a stable one.