Don't fall for the lies about the GOP's plan for Medicaid: We're actually STRENGTHENING it
President Donald Trump has asked Congress to follow through on his domestic-policy agenda by extending tax cuts for Americans, investing in our military and border security and cutting waste, fraud and abuse in entitlement spending, which threatens the solvency our nation's safety-net programs.
For my House Committee on Energy and Commerce, this meant hitting a 10-year savings target of $880 billion across our jurisdiction — energy, environment, telecommunications and health care — which I knew could only be reached through careful consideration and resolve.
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The committee came through, and then some: The most recent estimate from the Congressional Budget Office found that our efforts will save nearly $1.1 trillion.
More than a quarter of this amount, $344 billion, comes from new community-engagement rules (i.e., work requirements) for able-bodied adults who receive Medicaid benefits but choose not to work.
The rules will promote greater accountability and refocus Medicaid to better serve the most vulnerable.
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What exactly do these community-engagement requirements consist of?
If you're an able-bodied, unemployed adult who receives Medicaid, they ask that you demonstrate that you are either working, volunteering, in job training or in school for an average of 80 hours per month.
Health care and work are inextricably linked in this country: Nearly half of all Americans get their health insurance through their jobs, seniors get Medicare after years of contributing payroll taxes and members of our military and our veterans get their coverage through their service to our country.
To require Medicaid recipients who are able-bodied and unemployed to either work, go to school or volunteer in their communities in order to continue receiving subsidized health insurance should be a no brainer.
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You may have heard misinformation that work requirements are really just a sneaky way to take health care away from hard-working Americans, or even people with disabilities.
Let me set the record straight: This policy applies only to able-bodied, unemployed adults who have chosen not to work.
Our bill couldn't be clearer about that; it includes a long list of exempted individuals. For instance:
If you're pregnant, a member of a federally designated tribe, a caregiver or parent, under 19 or over 65, you're exempt from the requirements.
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You're exempt if you're medically frail, which includes anyone who's blind, disabled, battling a chronic substance-use disorder or living with a serious and complex medical condition like cancer.
If you meet work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare), you're also relieved of the requirements.
If you're in jail, prison or were released from incarceration within the past 90 days, you're exempt.
And if you're a former foster youth under 26, the requirements don't apply.
Plainly, the policy is targeting just a subset of fully able adults who are voluntarily choosing not to work or give back to their communities.
There are strong grounds for this policy: A new study from the American Enterprise Institute found that able-bodied, unemployed adult Medicaid recipients without dependents average 6.1 hours a day — 184 hours a month — watching television and socializing.
That figure is 50% higher than for employed beneficiaries.
These individuals spend less than a combined one hour a day looking for work or caring for others.
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And we're only asking that, in return for their Medicaid coverage, they choose from an array of options — work, go to school or volunteer — for just 80 hours per month.
That's eminently reasonable, and can help them become more self-reliant and productive.
Note, too, that a sizable number — 38% of beneficiaries, per a new White House Council of Economic Advisors study — are able-bodied, working-age adults.
There's no good reason for them not to be contributing to their communities or at least on a path to becoming productive.
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Americans are smart enough not to fall for the false narratives, lies and smears against work requirements.
They share Republicans' desires to purge government programs of rampant waste, fraud and abuse.
Our requirements help do just that, strengthening Medicaid for those who truly need it.
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) is chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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Associated Press
25 minutes ago
- Associated Press
11 days in June: Trump's path to 'yes' on bombing Iran
WASHINGTON (AP) — For more than a week, President Donald Trump kept the world wondering whether he would join Israel's attacks on Iran in an attempt to decapitate the country's nuclear program. The guessing ended this weekend, when American stealth bombers, fighter jets and a submarine struck with bombs and missiles. Trump's decision marks one of the riskiest foreign policy decisions by a U.S. president in recent memory, potentially plunging the nation back into armed conflict in the Middle East with no clear endgame. Like most of Trump's presidency, the path to military action was unconventional and played out on social media, as he alternatively pledged diplomacy, demanded the evacuation of Tehran, threatened the ayatollah and ultimately announced the U.S. strike. Here's a look at how the last 11 days unfolded, a cascade of events that could reshape a combustible corner of the globe. All dates below are in Eastern time. Wednesday, June 11The first sign that conflict could be on the horizon came when families of U.S. troops began leaving the Middle East. 'They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens,' Trump said as he arrived at the Kennedy Center for opening night of 'Les Misérables,' one of his favorite musicals. It wasn't clear whether Israel was preparing to strike, fulfilling years of threats to attack Iran's nuclear program, or if the movements were a feint to increase pressure for negotiations. The next round of talks between Washington and Tehran was just days away, and Trump was adamant about reaching a diplomatic solution. Behind the scenes, the Israeli military operation was already taking shape. Thursday, June 12 Trump said an attack by Israel 'could very well happen.' But Iran still seemed to be taken by surprise. Around 8 p.m. in Washington, explosions in Tehran killed top military leaders and scientists. Multiple sites connected to Iran's nuclear program were also hit. Israel said 200 warplanes took part in the first wave of attacks. More damage was done with drones that Israeli spies had smuggled into the country, destroying air defenses and missile launchers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a 'targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival.' Although Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes, Israeli leaders claimed it was an imminent threat. Trump posted on social media that 'we remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution,' but his tone would soon change. Friday, June 13 Iran retaliated against Israel with missiles and drones, many of which were shot down by air defenses. As Trump started his day in Washington, he seemed impressed by Israeli military prowess and his tone became more aggressive toward Iran. 'The United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come - And they know how to use it,' he wrote on social media. But Trump suggested that diplomacy was his first choice, and urged Iran to make a deal. 'Now they have, perhaps, a second chance' to get it done, he said. Saturday, June 14 Trump talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the morning, and they discussed the conflict between Israel and Iran. The next round of talks between the U.S. and Iran was canceled. As Israel and Iran continued to trade strikes, Trump attended a military parade in Washington. It was the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, as well as his 79th birthday. The muscular display of American military might — tanks, troops, paratroopers and a 21-gun salute — played out in the nation's capital as the potential for a new conflict loomed. Sunday, June 15 Trump spent the day talking up his reputation as a peacemaker, encouraging Iran and Israel to 'make a deal' similar to how he had brokered an end to fighting between India and Pakistan. 'Many calls and meetings now taking place,' Trump wrote on social media. 'I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that's OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!' Iran's health ministry said 224 people had been killed by Israeli strikes at this point in the conflict. Reports also emerged that Trump had rejected an Israeli plan to kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. U.S. officials viewed the idea as dangerously destabilizing. Trump flew to Canada for the annual Group of Seven summit, which gathers the world's most powerful democracies. He would not be there long. Monday, June 16 Israel claimed it had achieved 'aerial superiority' over Tehran, allowing its warplanes to operate freely in the skies above Iran's capital. One of the strikes hit Iran's state-run television, abruptly stopping a live broadcast. Netanyahu said Israeli strikes set back Iran's nuclear program a 'very, very long time.' However, the extent of the damage was unclear, and U.S. and Israeli officials believed only American planes with specially designed 'bunker buster' bombs had the capability to destroy nuclear sites buried deep underground. After a single day at the G7 summit, the White House abruptly announced that Trump would leave early on a red-eye flight to Washington to meet with his national security team. Tuesday, June 17 Trump demanded Iran's 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER' in a post on social media and he told reporters aboard Air Force One that he wanted 'a real end' to the conflict, not just a ceasefire. He expressed frustration with Iranian leaders for failing to reach an agreement. 'They should have done the deal. I told them, 'Do the deal,'' he said. 'So I don't know. I'm not too much in the mood to negotiate.' Trump also brushed off assessments from U.S. spy agencies that Iran hadn't decided to build a nuclear weapon. He insisted they were 'very close.' The sun had not yet risen when Trump arrived at the White House. He took part in a meeting in the Situation Room, but did not appear publicly. With little clarity on next steps, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters that 'I'm here to take questions, not necessarily answer them.' Wednesday, June 18 By this point, there was no question that Trump was considering joining Israel's attacks on Iran. 'I may do it, I may not do it,' he said that morning. 'Nobody knows what I'm going to do.' The president spoke to reporters while overseeing the installation of a massive new flagpole on the South Lawn of the White House, toggling back and forth between chatting up construction workers in hard hats and sizing up the Iranian nuclear threat. Later, in the Oval Office, Trump again suggested that the U.S. might get directly involved to thwart Iran's atomic ambitions. 'I'm not looking to fight,' he said. 'But if it's a choice between fighting and having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do.' On Capitol Hill, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers the Pentagon was presenting Trump with military options. Thursday, June 19 It was a federal holiday — Juneteenth — and much of Washington took the hot, steamy day off, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt scheduled a briefing nonetheless. She entered the briefing room to deliver a message from the president: He would decide within two weeks whether to become directly involved in Israel's war on Iran. Trump has long been known to toss out 'two week' deadlines for actions that never materialize, so the statement left people guessing on his next move. Friday, June 20 Trump convened another meeting of his national security advisers and then flew to his golf club in New Jersey, where he attended a political fundraiser in the evening. He talked to reporters briefly en route, long enough to say his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, was 'wrong' when she previously said that the U.S. believed Iran wasn't building a nuclear weapon. Saturday, June 21 Around midnight, the U.S. military operation began in secret: B-2 stealth bombers taking off from a base in Missouri. They headed east, over the Atlantic Ocean, refueling from airborne tankers along the way. It would take them 18 hours to reach Iran. A decoy flight went west, toward the Pacific. Trump returned to the White House from New Jersey around 6 p.m. Less than an hour later, American ordinance began exploding in Tehran. More than two dozen Tomahawk missiles were fired from a U.S. submarine. Fighter jets scanned for Iranian interceptors. The stealth bombers dropped 14 bunker buster bombs, marking the first time that the 30,000-pound weapon had been used in combat. Trump announced the strikes on social media, saying it was a 'very successful attack and 'NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!' In a brief national address from the White House, the president threatened to attack Iran again if there was any retaliation. 'There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran,' he said.
CBS News
31 minutes ago
- CBS News
Colorado lawmakers respond to U.S. strikes on Iran, address security concerns
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis directs teams to remain vigilant in wake of attacks on Iran Colorado Gov. Jared Polis directs teams to remain vigilant in wake of attacks on Iran Colorado Gov. Jared Polis directs teams to remain vigilant in wake of attacks on Iran In the wake of the attacks by U.S. forces against three nuclear sites in Iran on Saturday, many Colorado officials and representatives took to social media in both support and opposition. CBS The military community is a significant part of Colorado, with six military bases across the state. The F.E. Warren Air Force Base missile field also spans an area covering parts of Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado. The base is one of three strategic missile bases in the U.S. responsible for the country's nuclear defense. Gov. Jared Polis took to Facebook on Saturday to reassure Coloradans that he is working to mitigate any safety concerns that may arise as the world waits to see how Iran will respond. "I met with my public safety team this evening and directed that they coordinate with state, local and federal partners and remain vigilant against all threats to Coloradans and the state's infrastructure and military assets. The state is actively monitoring for any unusual or heightened activity and threats." Many Colorado representatives in Congress condemned the decision to attacks, claiming it was outside of the president's authority to authorize them, while others praised the decision, stating the attacks are protecting the United States. Most reactions fell along party lines. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who represents Colorado's 4th congressional district, did not release a statement, but she reposted a tweet from the president depicting a U.S. flag, suggesting support for his decision. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, who serves Colorado's 7th District, condemned the president for not obtaining congressional approval for the attacks. "Only Congress may authorize war. And the last person I would trust to lead us through this is Donald Trump. As we watch to see the results of this strike, my primary concern is the safety and security American service members and diplomats across the region. For the good of America and the world, we must prioritize diplomatic de-escalation. " Meanwhile, Rep. Jason Crow, who served as an Army Ranger and now represents Colorado's 6th District, said he's seeking more information about the strikes and condemned the attack as executive overreach. "I'm seeking more information about the strikes against Iran, but here's what we do know: 1. Trump broke a promise to prevent America from entering new conflicts. 2. Trump has, once again, exceeded his authority. 3. Congress must act now & reclaim constitutional power over America's use of military force." Colorado's 3rd District Rep., Jeff Hurd, praised the attacks on X, stating, "The world is safer when America leads. I support efforts to protect U.S. security and stand with our allies. Grateful to our servicemembers for their professionalism and courage." Rep. Gabe Evans of Colorado's 8th District is also an Army veteran. He praised the military members who carried out the attack on X, stating: "I'm glad to see @POTUS take action to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. As a veteran of a Global War on Terror, I know we achieve peace through strength. Prayers and thanks to our brave men and women who carried out this necessary operation."
Politico
36 minutes ago
- Politico
With Iran Strikes, Trump is ‘Unchained'
Remember when Donald Trump was an isolationist? Yes, once upon a time, that's how many in the national security realm described this president. Plenty of his moves — from his digs at NATO to his use of the 'America First' slogan — seemed to justify the label. Officials, journalists and others, including myself, would sit around pondering questions like: 'Does America First mean America Alone?' In the years since he first took office, it has become increasingly hard to define the 'Trump Doctrine' for foreign policy. He has taken more and more contradictory moves while growing more confident in his Oval Office instincts. Foreign affairs luminaries have devoted many papers to trying to clarify the aims of a man who refuses to come into focus. He's a shallow transactionalist! He's a principled realist! He's an imperialist with a Western Hemisphere fixation! Trump himself once even said, 'I'm a nationalist and a globalist. I'm both.' Trump's decision to bomb Iran's nuclear sites this weekend is the latest sign that he's now in a phase where he's willing to take enormous risks with little concern about the blowback. He has survived so much already — two impeachments, criminal convictions, two assassination attempts. He doesn't have to run for office again, and, as has been amply noted, his advisers won't restrain him the way they did in his first term. Even when Trump backs down (the TACO thing) he still redefines the parameters of the conversation. 'It's Trump unchained,' said Ilan Goldenberg, a Middle East specialist who worked for the Biden team, referring to the president's behavior. I've never been a fan of the race to define presidential doctrines. It feels unfair to try to box in leaders who face so many varying crises. But I sympathize with people who seek to impose coherence on Trump because, as humans, we all need some sense of order and clarity. When I asked several former officials and analysts what Trump's strikes on Iran meant about his foreign policy doctrine, their exhaustion at trying to understand the mercurial president came through. 'I have no idea what the doctrine is. Ask him,' an Arab analyst said. 'Seriously?' a Bush II administration official replied. I granted them anonymity to be frank about their uncertainty. Others took a shot. Trump 'stresses diplomacy but leaves little doubt that those diplomatic windows do not stay open indefinitely,' said Bill Cortese, a GOP operative close to the White House. 'The use of force is always on the table but the use of U.S. assets is limited, focused, and with an end goal — no more open-ended conflicts. And it must answer the ultimate question: Does this directly benefit the people of the United States?' Eddie Fishman, a sanctions expert who worked for the Obama administration, put it this way: 'Trump seems to believe that the quick and decisive application of U.S. power — be it economic or military — can achieve maximalist objectives. As Trump sees it, the disparity in power between the U.S. and other countries is so great that when we act boldly, others will capitulate.' Trump's decision to strike Iran will test these theories, as well as his risk tolerance. It also could determine how his 'doctrine' — as much as one can call it that — is ultimately defined. Trump has urged Iran not to retaliate and to use the U.S. strike as an opportunity to negotiate some sort of peace. But Iran has already threatened revenge, and nearly every U.S. official I spoke to expects it will fulfill that promise. On Sunday, there were reports that Iran may shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could spike oil prices and roil markets. The U.S. also has some 40,000 troops stationed across the Middle East, giving Iran many potential targets. If Trump's hope for a one-and-done strike devolves into an endless tit-for-tat, he will have led the U.S. into the very type of war he's long promised to avoid. So much for the 'isolationist.' For countries watching this from the sidelines, there are lessons to learn from how both Trump and Iran approached this conflict, which spiraled after Israel began striking Iranian targets more than a week ago. One is that Trump isn't bluffing about using force, even in an extreme way. While he carried out military strikes during his first term (on Syria, on an Iranian general who was in Iraq) those moves were arguably more calibrated than this weekend's bunker-buster bombing on Iranian soil. A second lesson is that he believes in diplomacy, but he doesn't have much patience for it. That's especially the case when it comes to an adversary he sees as much weaker than the United States. Iranian officials tried to use their usual delaying tactics as they negotiated with Trump's envoys. When Israel decided to strike Iran two days before Iranian and U.S. officials were due to meet, Trump, annoyed with Tehran's unwillingness to commit to zero enrichment of uranium on Iranian soil, didn't try very hard to stop the Israelis. 'They thought they were dealing with a different kind of leader, like the kinds of leaders they've been playing games with for the last 30 or 40 years. And they found out that's not the case,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS's 'Face the Nation' on Sunday. Another lesson is to be prepared for the worst-case scenario when it comes to Trump. He says he'll decide 'within two weeks' whether to bomb you? It probably means you'll get bombed, like, right now. 'Don't underestimate and dismiss when he says crazy things,' Goldenberg said. 'They might actually happen.' When it comes to Iran, Trump watchers can still revert to the phrase 'America First' in trying to capture his bedrock foreign policy belief. Trump naysayers can argue that he's abandoning 'America First' by entering a war that could lead to the loss of U.S. lives and resources. Trump supporters can say: What's more 'America First' than eliminating the nuclear threat from an avowed U.S. enemy? The great thing about 'America First' is that it is malleable, just like Trump himself.
