Groups are speaking out this morning as a key U-S House committee considers a tax cut bill that opponents warn will make deep funding cuts to Medicaid. Nan Madden with Minnesota Budget Project says, “We’ve seen a number of proposals all through this year to deeply cut back on federal funding for Medicaid…. Basically ends the promise that Medicaid will be there if you need it.”
Madden disagrees with those who say the measure just narrows the scope of Medicaid. She says, “Really these cuts are of a[n] order of magnitude that it really creates a fundamental threat for health care for seniors, for people with disabilities, and for struggling families and kids.”
But some analysts say Medicaid cuts will never come to pass because Republicans’ main objective is to cut corporate and individual income tax rates. GOP lawmakers argue it will put the economy in overdrive and help balance the federal budget.