House GOP Budget Picture Starts to Develop: Increased Overall Spending & CBO est. ~$2,400,000,000,000 in Additional Debt

[essentialsaltes]

What? Tariffs won't cover the 1.5 Trillion?

Not even in Peter Navarro's fantasy scenario.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Next week, GOP lawmakers will start rolling out portions of the planned megabill, with House committees slated to hold a series of meetings advancing individual portions. Speaker Mike Johnson has set an aggressive Memorial Day deadline to get a final product through the chamber.

 

[essentialsaltes]

The House Agriculture Committee, which oversees the [SNAP/food stamps] program and is tasked with securing $230 billion in savings, is further behind schedule than most other panels, senior GOP leadership aides said.

America’s largest anti-hunger program could be transformed under proposals now being debated by congressional Republicans, with some of the costs for the safety-net program potentially pushed onto states for the first time. But White House officials are urging caution as GOP lawmakers move to finalize their massive domestic policy bill, with concerns mounting about benefit cuts hitting President Donald Trump’s own voters.

Lawmakers are discussing more than a dozen iterations of the still-tentative plan to scale back federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by forcing states to split at least some of the cost, according to five people granted anonymity to describe the private deliberations. Governors would have to decide whether to foot the bill or put new limits on who would be eligible for food aid in their states.

Versions of the plan now under consideration wouldn’t phase-in any cost-sharing until after the 2026 midterms

Now there's a sign your changes are going to be popular!

 

[essentialsaltes]

House Republicans face dilemma over Medicaid cuts as they vow to protect benefits​

House Republicans are facing the difficult task of slashing $1.5 trillion — with hundreds of billions likely in Medicaid spending — to help offset the cost of President Trump's tax cuts.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office recently calculatedthat achieving those savings [the budget plan] would not be possible without cuts to Medicaid, which accounts for 93% of non-Medicare mandatory spending

Don Bacon sets $500B red line on Medicaid​

The Nebraska Republican has privately told the White House he won’t accept more than $500 billion in reductions to the program, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

His concerns speak to the broader complications Republicans face in trying to enact a massive party-line megabill that is also set to include border security, energy policy and other provisions. Moderates are wary of changes that could cut deep into safety-net programs, while conservative hard-liners want to drastically slash them — all with slim margins in the House and Senate.

House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) has said he expects health care provisions to account for as much as $600 billion of the committee’s $880 billion savings goal, though not all of that would necessarily come from Medicaid.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Republicans consider unraveling a key part of Obamacare in Trump agenda bill​

The chair of the House committee overseeing health care policy said they're looking at unwinding the federal promise to cover 90% of the 2010 law's Medicaid expansion.

The 90% federal match was a linchpin of the Medicaid expansion under the ACA, also known as Obamacare, enticing states to adopt the provision, which has since extended coverage to an estimated 20 million people in more than 40 states.

Lowering it to the traditional rate the feds pay on Medicaid “would be a huge cost shift to states, and many would have difficulty coming up with the extra money,” he added. “Some states even have triggers that would eliminate the expansion if the match rate is lowered.”

--

Here are states that have automatic triggers to drop the expansion. [those with * start a review process rather than automatic cuts]

Obviously others that don't have triggers might still reconsider if the rate changes.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Sounds like the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is getting close to figuring out how to square the circle: $20 annual tax on cars.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) released the details Tuesday of his committee’s contribution to the larger GOP megabill ahead of a planned Wednesday markup, which included the $20 annual fee indexed to inflation.

But Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) was outraged by the proposal and put it forward as an example of why he’s skeptical about how much the Republicans’ party-line package of tax cuts, border security investments, energy policies and more will actually reduce the federal deficit.

“Like, are you out of your [doggone] mind?” Roy said Tuesday upon reviewing the proposal.

 

[Desk trauma]

How much the Republicans’ party-line package of tax cuts, border security investments, energy policies and more will actually reduce the federal deficit.

None, the answer is none.

 

[essentialsaltes]

"Mr. Chairman, I just want to say, our federal budget reflects our values,” [Rep.] Lynch declared

“When we fund the VA,” Lynch continued, “it’s not just about numbers. It’s about, it’s about the mission, and the purpose of our budget.”

Chairman Comer appeared to grow angry.

“You do understand our federal budget is $2.5 trillion?” Comer declared, appearing to suggest details like how much spent on veterans was not worth the Committee’s time. “We can’t have ‘values’,” Comer insisted, with the amount of debt the federal government is carrying.

“Reclaiming my time — you don’t get to just interject, Mr. Chairman,” Lynch charged.

You know what? I think you’ve already spoken, so you’re out of order,” Comer declared, hitting his desk with his gavel.

“I will speak,” Lynch, now heated, told the Chair. “You’re about to put our country $4 trillion more than debt.”

 

[essentialsaltes]

Trump is proposing Congress cut $163 billion in non-defense spending next year​

The cuts, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, represent a 22.6% cut in projected spending for the current fiscal year. They were confirmed by a spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget who was not authorized to speak publicly ahead of the release of the budget proposal.

The "skinny budget" is a summary of budget proposals that presidents often release in their first term, followed later on by the traditional full budget books that include all spending and revenue projections.

[Congress has been talking about adding $150 billion in defense spending, so not much of an effect on net spending. Assuming Congress goes along with the White House plan (which they seldom do)]

 

[BCP1928]

Sounds like the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is getting close to figuring out how to square the circle: $20 annual tax on cars.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) released the details Tuesday of his committee’s contribution to the larger GOP megabill ahead of a planned Wednesday markup, which included the $20 annual fee indexed to inflation.

But Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) was outraged by the proposal and put it forward as an example of why he’s skeptical about how much the Republicans’ party-line package of tax cuts, border security investments, energy policies and more will actually reduce the federal deficit.

“Like, are you out of your [doggone] mind?” Roy said Tuesday upon reviewing the proposal.

Skeptical? I don't see any reason why anybody would believe any such thing, or that MAGA intended any such thing.

 

[essentialsaltes]

White House doc budget request.

Is it just me, or is Vought having trouble saving to PDF?

Facilities are in disrepair, so.... let's just cancel it.

 

[Pommer]

White House doc budget request.

Is it just me, or is Vought having trouble saving to PDF?

View attachment 364421

Facilities are in disrepair, so.... let's just cancel it.

Link made Firefox do jinkies

 

[rjs330]

Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right

Moderate Republicans Threaten to Sink Trump Budget Plan Over Musk’s Cuts to Medicaid​

Reps. David Valadao (R-Calif.) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), who represent areas with many Medicaid recipients, are withholding their support. They want more information on how these cuts would affect their constituents.

Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.) warned that he would not vote for the budget if it hurts people in his district. He said, “If a bill is put in front of me that guts the benefits my neighbors rely on, I will not vote for it.”

This uncertainty could cause trouble for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and the leadership team, including Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), who are hoping to pass the resolution by the week of Feb. 24. With little room to spare, Republicans can only lose one vote and still need full support from their members, as Democrats are expected to oppose it.

The budget resolution includes major spending cuts, aiming for $1.5 trillion with a target of $2 trillion. It also imposes a $4.5 trillion limit on the deficit and calls for $300 billion in extra spending for border security and defense. The most significant cuts are aimed at Medicaid, with the Energy and Commerce Committee expected to take the biggest hit — up to $880 billion.

You don't like watching how rhe sausage is made?

 

[rjs330]

Color me skeptical on anyone lowering the deficit. Out government is hooked on out money and lives spending it, more and more every single budget cycle. I don't believe ANY of them who talk about reducing the deficit. There might be some individuals who would, but they are in such a minority that they are useless in that endeavor.

The ONLY way to cut the deficit is to stop spending so much. You HAVE to cut programs, which it seems no one is interested in doing.

 

[essentialsaltes]

You don't like watching how rhe sausage is made?

I enjoy watching the ludicrous promises of the campaign evolve into something that will probably increase deficits.

 

[rjs330]

I enjoy watching the ludicrous promises of the campaign evolve into something that will probably increase deficits.

Why? You like increased deficits?

Honestly I think almost all Americans don't want to increase deficits. But equally almost all Americans don't want to cut programs and most Americans don't want to see their taxes go up. Cutting is the only way to reduce deficits under our current system. And anytime there is a suggestion we do so, everyone goes nuts.

Then whenever the other side increases spending we all go nuts as well and point fingers.

We are a strange bunch.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Cutting is the only way to reduce deficits under our current system. And anytime there is a suggestion we do so, everyone goes nuts.

And in this case, 'everyone' is the GOP majorities in both chambers of Congress.

 

[rjs330]

And in this case, 'everyone' is the GOP majorities in both chambers of Congress.

Yeah, that's what everyone means. Both sides. Neither side wants actual cuts.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Yeah, that's what everyone means. Both sides. Neither side wants actual cuts.

SInce the GOP is going it alone and not trying to win over people from the other side of the aisle with the budget proposals, 'everyone' is the Congressional GOP.

 

[essentialsaltes]

The House Agriculture Committee, which oversees the [SNAP/food stamps] program and is tasked with securing $230 billion in savings, is further behind schedule than most other panels, senior GOP leadership aides said.


Lawmakers are discussing more than a dozen iterations of the still-tentative plan to scale back federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by forcing states to split at least some of the cost, ... Versions of the plan now under consideration wouldn’t phase-in any cost-sharing until after the 2026 midterms

Republicans in the last day have altered the most controversial piece of the House Agriculture Committee’s portion of the Trump megabill: a plan to force states to pay a portion of benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for the first time.

White House officials and other Republicans have been wary of the impact on deep red states of the SNAP plans in combination with Medicaid spending cuts. Alaska, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maine, North Carolina, New York, California and a slew of other red and battleground states would be hit hard by the proposal. But White House officials effectively green-lit the proposal in recent days. And the latest plan would skew the financial burden to a raft of red states like Alaska and South Carolina, along with Georgia and Pennsylvania.

The latest plan would phase in for the 2028 fiscal year