Latest news with #Ciscomani
CNN
06-08-2025
- Business
- CNN
Voters share the economic impacts of Trump's megabill in battleground Arizona
Opening a new restaurant is always a risk, but this one even more so: It's a scorching summer in the Arizona desert, meat prices are up and the economy is unpredictable. 'I'm a little nervous,' owner Ray Flores tells a visitor to his new project on Tucson's northern edge. 'Are you a gambler?' Charro Steak North is almost ready: The bar is stocked, the supplies delivered and the new team hired. For that last part, Flores gives President Donald Trump and the Republican Congress some credit, specifically for their sweeping new policy bill, which among many other changes temporarily eliminates taxes on tipped wages and overtime for many workers. 'We had a really robust hiring fair,' Flores said in an interview. 'Lots of applicants. Way more than we have had in previous hiring fairs. A lot of quality applicants. A little higher quality, it seems, than in the past four or five years. …. I do believe that those messages of some kind of tax relief created some of this.' The steakhouse is in Arizona's 6th Congressional District, one of the top battlegrounds as Republicans try to hold their tiny House majority in next year's midterm elections. GOP Rep. Juan Ciscomani is the incumbent, and Flores has supported him in the past. Ciscomani voted for the policy bill, championed by Trump, that includes the changes Flores believes might help his new restaurant launch. But Flores isn't ready to commit to backing the district's GOP incumbent again in 2026. 'Right now, we are in the middle of the off-season,' Flores said. 'It's probably a question that needs to be asked a year from today.' Flores is an independent and a late decider. And he worries Ciscomani is perhaps more concerned with his own standing in Washington — and with Trump — than he is about his evenly divided district here in southern Arizona. 'Unfortunately, once you are elected, that is the treadmill that you are on,' Flores said. 'You get nothing done anymore because you are just trying to get reelected or get your party elected. … I always felt that he was somebody for our community. I hope that still remains the case.' Our visit was part of our 'All Over the Map' project; Flores was among the more than 100 voters we visited repeatedly in battleground states last year to track the 2024 campaign through the eyes and experiences of everyday Americans. Now, our goal is to track public sentiment about the president and his agenda heading into the 2026 midterm elections. This most recent Arizona visit was to get some first impressions of the GOP agenda package, marketed by Trump and his Republican allies as their 'big, beautiful bill.' For a restauranteur like Flores, the bill's impact on the economy will be the greatest test. So his acknowledgment that the GOP measure likely helped him find a better staff for Charro Steak North could potentially work in Ciscomani's favor. But Flores also finds a lot not to like in the new measure. 'I don't know if we are big enough for it to help us,' said Flores, whose company runs more than a dozen restaurants now. 'They've got their work cut out to make sure this pays off. I'm concerned that businesses are … all being lumped (in with) these billionaires, and that's not the case.' Flores said the GOP agenda bill does nothing to help 'back-of-house' restaurant workers — cooks and dishwashers and others who don't get tips. And it did nothing to solve what Flores considers a problem for the hospitality industry: wildly disparate state laws setting minimum wages for tipped versus other categories of workers. 'I would like to see more from (Ciscomani) and their team focusing on small business,' Flores said. 'I wish they would talk to operators more than they do now.' The economic impact is one metric to track here as we count down the 15 months to the midterm vote. Latino voter sentiment is another. The district is 25% Hispanic, and Republicans hope to build on the party's recent gains with Latino voters. Trump, for example, won 37% of the Latino vote in Arizona in 2020. He narrowly lost the state. In 2024, Trump's share of Arizona Latino voters jumped to 44%. He won the 6th District and the state on his way back to the White House. We will get a glimpse of Latino voter sentiment next month, when there is a special election in the neighboring 7th Congressional District. It is overwhelmingly Democratic and 60% Hispanic. A third midterm test for the Republican agenda bill, here and in other battleground districts, is the impact of big changes to social safety net programs. Democrats are already framing those changes as mean-spirited, accusing Republicans of hurting the poor to help pay for tax and other benefits that mainly benefit the more affluent. Those coming changes are the source of constant conversation at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, which serves both the 6th and the 7th congressional districts. 'Demand is already up,' said Claudio Rodriguez, the food bank's vice president for policy and advocacy. 'We have a lot of newcomers.' The food bank served 171,000 people last year. It projects that number will climb close to 200,000 in 2025. Many of the people it serves come several times a year, if not every month. The food bank had 900,000 total visits last year and projects surpassing 1.2 million visits this year. Those increases come despite the fact that, to date, the impact of Trump administration changes on the food bank has been relatively modest. Rodriguez said a partner agency recently lost federal funding for a lunch program. During a tour of the food warehouse he paused at an area stacked with fresh produce, including a pallet of boxed tomatoes. 'I believe these are from Mexico,' Rodriguez said. 'That is going to change soon with the tariffs and all that. So we're going to see less produce come in.' Rodriguez predicted some additional cuts or changes when the next fiscal year begins on October 1. But the biggest impact on the working families who depend on the food bank are still down the road a bit. Popular GOP agenda items such as the temporary elimination of taxes on tips took effect immediately. But the more politically risky policy changes — such as new work requirements for Medicaid and eligibility and changes that could result in people losing food assistance — don't begin to kick in until 2027. It creates a challenge for the food bank's administrative staff. New applicants for help are briefed on the coming changes, so they know that their eligibility for food assistance or medical coverage could be affected as more of the new GOP policies take effect. 'Whether it is cuts to Medicaid, cuts to SNAP, maybe cuts to the resources that are in the Farm Bill, we have to adjust,' Rodriguez said. 'So we know there is going to be a change. We just don't know what the impact is going to look like.' That many of the provisions kick in at different times over the next several years is a challenge when the food bank tries to make projections about how many people it might find itself serving or how much private money it might need to raise to offset lost federal funds. That same drawn-out implementation schedule could also make it more difficult for Democrats to gain political advantage. 'Some things are going to roll out after the midterms, which is a very nice play for some folks to wait until after that,' Rodriguez said. 'All we can do is prepare and make sure that our community is being served.' We first met Rodriguez before the 2024 election, in his other work as an organizer for a progressive organization. The food bank is a nonprofit that does not take sides in elections, so Rodriguez is careful when on the clock there. He would not, for example, say whether be believes Ciscomani deserves another term. 'For some people, he did what he had to do,' Rodriguez said. 'For others, they were disappointed.' Rodriguez did share an email to the GOP congressman, written on behalf of the food bank, urging him to vote no on the big GOP agenda bill because of its social safety net cuts. Ciscomani ultimately rejected the idea that the measure would hurt working families. 'He believes that it won't, that he's attacking the fraud, the abuse, the scam,' Rodriguez said. 'When we come here every day on the line, we don't really see any of that. And if it is one or two people that do do that, why punish the rest? Why punish the seniors? Why punish the kids, the veterans?'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Officials issue warning as potential US law change could have devastating economic impact: 'Life-changing'
The Trump administration has been clear about its intentions to cut clean energy incentives, but it would be a massive blow to Republican districts that have benefited from the Inflation Reduction Act, which has supercharged clean energy investments and allowed economic growth in these areas. The IRA, passed in 2022, included an investment of nearly $370 billion into clean energy incentives, including tax credits on new EV purchases, rebates for energy-efficient home appliances, and tax credits for solar panels and heat pumps. In Casa Grande, Arizona, these clean energy incentives have led to more local investments and thousands of jobs, which are at risk if the IRA is gutted. "As much as there are other aspects of the IRA we [Republicans] can disagree with, these tax credits have had an impact in my district — and on job creation, on investment, also national security, because of energy production and having wanted to bring that more domestically," Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), who represents Casa Grande, told Politico. While Ciscomani has signed a letter urging the House Ways and Means Committee to protect these incentives, the fate of the act is unclear. Some critics have said that Ciscomani "shows up for the ribbon cuttings and then turns around and cuts funding" to clean energy projects, Politico reported. But Casa Grande is a prime example of the power of clean energy investments and the benefits of the IRA incentives. Politico reported that Lucid Motors, an electric vehicle manufacturer, has quadrupled its operations in the town and added nearly 3,000 "life-changing" jobs since its inception. While the plant was planned before the IRA was passed, it benefits from the tax credits in the act. Beyond Casa Grande, IRA incentives have led to major growth in clean energy investments, which have amounted to $1 trillion in the past six years, according to RMI. The nonprofit reported that the IRA led to a tripling in quarterly clean energy technology investments since its passage, with Republican states receiving 64% of those investments. Across the aisle, it makes economic sense to maintain the IRA benefits. Should the government continue to give tax incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades? Absolutely No Depends on the upgrade I don't know Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. A good way to communicate your support for clean energy initiatives is to show companies and elected officials that green business is good business. If you want your financial decisions to align with your values, GreenPortfolio connects individuals with remote financial advisors who make climate-forward investing simple. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Politico
16-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
GOP's clean energy divide hits home in the desert
Former President Joe Biden's climate law helped supercharge a clean energy manufacturing boom in the small city of Casa Grande, Arizona. Now those economic gains are caught up in the GOP's internal war over the fate of former President Joe Biden's climate legacy. And that is creating a tough choice for the swing House district's Republican representative, Juan Ciscomani, writes James Bikales. Ciscomani could resist Republican House leaders' efforts to gut Biden's hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy tax breaks — helping pay for a small portion of President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax and spending megabill. Or he could go along with the cuts, risking the wrath of constituents who could lose billions of dollars in new investments and tens of thousands of new jobs. Ciscomani is not alone. He is one of a group of Republican lawmakers who for months have been urging their leaders to spare at least some of the tax credits. But now they have to decide how hard to press those demands — and whether they are willing to tank a major part of Trump's agenda if they don't get their way. It's just one of myriad obstacles facing the megabill, which the House Budget Committee rejected this morning amid hard-line conservatives' demands for a complete rollback of the clean energy tax credits and steeper cuts in programs such as Medicaid. Now, stay tuned for what version of the bill emerges from the coming weekend of negotiations. Back to Casa Grande For Ciscomani, the stakes are high. Since he took office in 2023, electric car manufacturer Lucid Motors quadrupled the size of its plant in Casa Grande, bringing thousands of additional jobs to the former agricultural and mining community. As James writes, Procter & Gamble and several semiconductor chemical manufacturers followed Lucid to the area. Two copper mines that could eventually serve Lucid are in development on the city's outskirts. Central Arizona College launched a training center that is preparing thousands of local residents to work at Lucid and the other factories. Buoyed by the higher wages from Lucid, population and median income are up in the area, and businesses are streaming back. Target announced in February it would reopen a store in Casa Grande that it had closed in 2016. The boom means that many residents can buy a car or a house for the first time, one Lucid employee told James. Separately, the SunZia transmission line, part of the country's largest clean energy project, is set to carry massive amounts of wind power across the northern half of Ciscomani's district, transporting much-needed power to Phoenix and California. Adrian Price, Lucid's senior vice president of operations, told James that if Republicans eliminate Biden's tax credits, the company would remain in Casa Grande. But the company's growth would slow and job opportunities would dwindle. 'Manufacturing is a hugely capital-intensive business ... and you have to be careful about how you invest and grow,' Price said. 'Those credits and those opportunities are part of the fabric of how we structure the business to enable us to grow at the fastest rate we can.' Thank goodness it's Friday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO's Power Switch. I'm your host, Arianna Skibell. Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to askibell@ Today in POLITICO Energy's podcast: Zack Colman breaks down the National Weather Service's staffing challenges, as it rushes to fill hundreds of positions throughout the country ahead of the looming hurricane season. Power Centers One word to ruin them all The Environmental Protection Agency's proposed repeal of the nation's climate rule for power plants could hinge on a single word: 'Significantly,' writes Jean Chemnick. Section 111 of the Clean Air Act asks EPA to determine whether a power plant 'causes, or contributes significantly' to harmful air pollution. Conservative legal experts say that EPA could reinterpret 'significantly' to downplay carbon pollution's role in global warming. Electricity costs climb, despite Trump's promisesOn the campaign trail, Trump vowed to cut energy costs in half. But retail electricity prices are expected to continue a rapid rise this year, with the average price increasing 13 percent from 2022 to 2025, writes Jason Plautz. The rate of increase could be even higher in the Pacific region, where prices are forecast to rise 26 percent in that time, as well as in New England and the mid-Atlantic regions, which are both forecast to see 19 percent increases. Greenland snubs Trump with EU musingsGreenland's foreign minister has suggested the European Union could develop its coveted mineral resources amid Trump's threat to seize the island, writes Seb Starcevic. With its vast caches of rare earths and strategic location in the Arctic, Greenland — a self-ruling Danish territory with a population of around 60,000 — has became an increasingly important geopolitical player whose global profile has been elevated by Trump's aggressive overtures. In Other News In a plastic world: On a remote Australian island, the birds are so full of plastic that they crunch. New study: Climate change can increase health risks during pregnancy. Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. The heads of the World Wildlife Fund, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Nature Conservancy remained the top-earning executives among major environmental and conservation groups. A federal judge has blocked the Energy Department's new policy capping indirect department-funded research costs. House Republicans and industry representatives slammed a federal plan to protect workers from heat — and said the proposed regulation would be too onerous for employers to follow. That's it for today, folks. Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The clean energy boom that could snarl the GOP megabill
CASA GRANDE, Arizona — An Arizona Republican's swing district is experiencing a clean energy boom. He may have to buck Donald Trump to protect it. Since Rep. Juan Ciscomani took office in 2023, electric car manufacturer Lucid Motors quadrupled the size of its plant in Casa Grande, bringing thousands of additional jobs to his economically struggling district. Further east, across Tucson's suburbs and beyond, utilities, farms and residents are flocking to install solar in a bid to temper rising electricity prices. And the SunZia transmission line, part of the country's largest clean energy project, is set to carry gigawatts of wind power across the northern half of his district, transporting much-needed power to Phoenix and California. But that growth is partly driven by incentives in Democrats' 2022 climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, which Trump has derided as the 'Green New Scam' and Republican leaders are looking to cut to help pay for a massive tax, border security and energy package. That is going to force dozens of rank-and-file Republicans like Ciscomani to make a difficult decision: resist Trump's efforts to gut the IRA or incur the wrath of constituents who could lose billions of dollars in clean energy investments and tens of thousands of new jobs. But these lawmakers also risk drawing the ire of the president and his allies if they slow the final package or vote against it. The House Ways and Means Committee portion of the bill, released this week, would gut many of the IRA's clean energy tax credits. For Ciscomani, a rising star in the GOP who holds one of the most competitive House seats in the nation, the decision could be a pivotal one for his political future — and that of his party. With Republicans holding a slim majority in the House, Trump endorsed Ciscomani's bid for a third term last month. But Democrats — who have identified him as one of their top targets — are already preparing their attacks if he votes to cut clean energy programs or limit safety-net programs like Medicaid in the reconciliation package. So far, Ciscomani has looked to toe the line. He has signed onto two letters urging leadership to preserve at least some of the IRA's credits, and met recently with Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), whose committee holds jurisdiction over the credits, to make his case. 'I've made it clear what I'm going to be fighting for,' Ciscomani said in an interview. But he'll have to make a decision once Republicans bring the full package to the floor, which they aim to do by Memorial Day. Ciscomani, along with other Republicans who have called to preserve the IRA, in March voted for the budget resolution that is allowing the GOP to attempt to pass the package without Democratic votes. Kirsten Engel, a University of Arizona environmental law professor and former Democratic candidate who narrowly lost to Ciscomani in 2022 and 2024, said the climate law has been transformative for the district — and residents will be closely watching whether Ciscomani votes to protect it. 'It's one thing to say that you support this — it's another thing to actually vote in a manner that's going to make sure that this money actually is available,' said Engel, who is not currently planning another run. 'It seems like he's trying to have his cake and eat it too.' Ciscomani acknowledged he hasn't yet drawn any red lines on the clean energy credits. But he emphasized how important they are to companies such as Lucid Motors, which he helped recruit to Arizona a decade ago as an aide to then-Republican Gov. Doug Ducey. 'As much as there are other aspects of the IRA we [Republicans] can disagree with, these tax credits have had an impact in my district — and on job creation, on investment, also national security, because of energy production and having wanted to bring that more domestically,' he said. The clean energy boom has opened new doors for many of Ciscomani's constituents, like Ruben Subia. When Subia left the military and returned home to Casa Grande, he figured he would have to follow many of his high school classmates to Phoenix or Tucson for a higher-paying job. But Lucid was hiring for its new factory, offering high-paying jobs right in town and a chance to put his skills in the trades to work. Subia became one of the first 1,000 employees at the plant, which has since expanded to 2,800 after it quadrupled its footprint last year. The jobs at Lucid have been 'life-changing' for many in Casa Grande, giving them the opportunity to buy a car or a house for the first time, said Subia, who now works in human resources. His two brothers, who are also veterans, have joined him at Lucid. The IRA helped supercharge a manufacturing boom in the city of 64,000, a former agricultural and mining town. Proctor and Gamble and several semiconductor chemical manufacturers have followed Lucid to the area. Two copper mines that could eventually supply Lucid are in development on the city's outskirts. And Central Arizona College launched a training center just outside town that has prepared thousands of locals to work at Lucid and the other factories. Population and median income are up, and businesses are streaming back, buoyed by the wages from Lucid, which is now Pinal County's largest employer. Target announced in February it would reopen a store in Casa Grande it closed in 2016. Casa Grande Mayor Lisa Navarro Fitzgibbons, who has lived in the area since the 1970s, said the partisanship around the IRA credits 'drives me crazy' because they have only brought jobs and growth to towns like hers. 'As we continue to see some of these cuts and changes in legislation, we are the ones that are struggling and scrambling,' said Fitzgibbons, who signed a letter alongside 15 other mayors in April urging lawmakers to preserve the full suite of credits. Fitzgibbons' position is nonpartisan. House Republicans' proposal would eliminate all of the IRA's consumer EV credits within two years and curtail the advanced manufacturing credit that has spurred a wave of factory investments across the country. While Lucid's factory was planned before the IRA passed, it benefits from the manufacturing incentive for the battery packs it assembles and the consumer EV tax credit for leased vehicles. The company also hopes to claim the EV credit for its upcoming cheaper midsize SUV, planned for 2026 release. 'It's not that we won't be here [if the credits are eliminated], but the growth curve will be a lot slower, the job opportunities will be less,' said Adrian Price, Lucid's senior vice president of operations. Price said the company aligns well with the Trump administration's goals of bringing vehicle manufacturing back to the United States. Unlike many other manufacturers, Lucid does its stamping in-house in Casa Grande — meaning its cars enter the factory as massive coils of U.S.-sourced aluminum and drive out ready to be delivered. But 'manufacturing is a hugely capital-intensive business … and you have to be careful about how you invest and grow,' Price said. 'Those credits and those opportunities are part of the fabric of how we structure the business to enable us to grow at the fastest rate we can.' It's not just Lucid that could feel the pain of the cuts in Ciscomani's district. The region's thriving solar industry is helping temper electricity prices amid surging power demand — but a combination of the uncertainty around tariffs and the tax credits has already led companies to pull back, said John Mitman, president of the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association. Utility rates in the region have surged in recent years, Mitman noted. 'I think we'll see even higher rate increases if [the credits for solar] go away, because it is really the primary source of most of that new generation capacity,' he said. Mitman is founder and CEO of solar developer Obodo Energy, which just completed a 4-megawatt solar installation at a commercial farm in Willcox, an agricultural town in the heart of Ciscomani's district. The project, which benefits from the tech-neutral clean electricity credit in the IRA, aims to fully offset power demand from three greenhouses, taking strain off the local grid and allowing the farm to grow more cucumbers and tomatoes, according to Mitman. As produce-laden trucks make their way to Interstate 10, they pass under the hulking towers of the nearly-complete SunZia transmission line. The 550-mile-long project, expected to begin operations in 2026, will carry 3 gigawatts of wind energy from central New Mexico to power-hungry customers in Arizona. A SunZia spokesperson said the line itself is not receiving IRA subsidies, but the wind project is eligible for the clean electricity credit for the power it generates. Republicans have proposed restricting that credit and moving up its sunset date. Just a few miles south of Willcox, Sal Tirrito and his wife Yuri are building their dream property: a farmstead retreat focused around sustainable practices. Opposite the six luxury yurts for overnight guests, Tirrito has plans for a solar canopy over the parking lot, which would power the onsite cafe. Tirrito was recently awarded a grant for the project under the Agriculture Department's Rural Energy for America Program, which received a huge infusion from the IRA. But with the future of the funding uncertain, he has decided to hold off for now rather than front the money and hope to get reimbursed given its half-million dollar price tag. Democrats and advocates say tough decisions like these are only the beginning if the climate law is gutted — and they are pressuring Ciscomani to defend the incentives. JoAnna Mendoza, a Marine veteran and Democrat who has filed to challenge Ciscomani, said her campaign will highlight the real-world impacts of the IRA, from job opportunities to lower energy bills. Ciscomani, she argued, has only provided 'lip service' by failing to challenge Trump's funding freezes and cuts to clean energy programs. Ciscomani 'shows up for the ribbon cuttings and then turns around and cuts funding,' Mendoza said. 'I think voters, the constituency, is starting to see that.' Chris Donat, another Democratic candidate, pointed to the regular demonstrations against the Republican budget bill that Democrats and others are holding outside Ciscomani's office in Tucson, saying voters are angry their lawmaker has not bucked Trump on clean energy and other issues and is 'obviously afraid to stand up for what he at least originally believed in.' National Democrats are also turning their attention to the tightly contested district. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.) drew more than 10,000 people to a March rally in Tucson for their 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour while Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) held a town hall in April to highlight the impacts of potential Medicaid cuts — and point out Ciscomani has not held his own in-person town halls for constituents. The cuts and limitations to the safety-net health program proposed by House Republicans to help pay for their bill further complicate Ciscomani's calculus on the clean energy cuts. More than 30,000 adults in Ciscomani's district are at risk of losing coverage while hospitals could be closed if federal funds dry up, according to research from Daniel Derksen, director of the University of Arizona Center for Rural Health. Ciscomani was among the dozen Republicans to declare in April they would not vote for a bill that cuts Medicaid for vulnerable populations. Ciscomani said in the interview that Medicaid is his only red line 'so far,' but he dismissed his Democratic opponents' claims that he would fold on the clean energy credits. 'These Democrats, they're straight up just grasping at straws at this point,' Ciscomani said. GOP state Sen. T.J. Shope, who represents Casa Grande and serves as president pro tempore, said he had 'no doubt' Ciscomani — whom he has known for a decade — will be able to navigate the difficult decisions on the reconciliation bill. 'If history serves as any indicator, he does a very good job of walking a tightrope,' Shope said. 'He does a very good job listening to his constituents.'
Axios
07-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Moderates winning the Medicaid fight so far
The contours of the House Republican Medicaid package are becoming clearer — and they're more likely to be more moderate-friendly now that Speaker Mike Johnson has appeared to rule out two of the more controversial options for reconciliation savings. Why it matters: Tuesday's meeting gave moderates the upper hand, at least for now — but Johnson's concessions left big questions on how to pay for the massive package. State of play: Johnson told reporters Tuesday night that lowering the federal share of costs in Medicaid, or FMAP, was off the table, and that per capita caps also may be, though he added, "Stay tuned." Driving the news: That would leave three main policies that moderates say they could get behind: work requirements, tightening eligibility checks and removing undocumented people from the Medicaid rolls. "We just keep bringing the conversation back to those three," said Rep. Juan Ciscomani on Tuesday night. "Those are the policies we care about." Ciscomani said that lowering the FMAP was a red line for him because doing so could trigger an Arizona law that would end the state's Medicaid expansion. He said there was the possibility that per capita caps could do the same, which would also make that a dealbreaker. Between the lines: The moderate-backed policies would not get to the House's target of $880 billion in Medicaid savings, so it's possible that other Medicaid measures will be added, such as limiting provider taxes that help finance the non-federal share of Medicaid spending. Restricting provider tax authority would potentially put states in a budget squeeze and could cause coverage losses. A CBO estimate requested by Democrats found that fully limiting provider taxes would save $668 billion but lead to 3.9 million people becoming uninsured. CBO has also told Democrats that work requirements could cause 2.5 million people to become uninsured while saving $260 billion. Increasing the frequency of eligibility checks would save $162 billion and lead to 600,000 more uninsured, per CBO. Possible ACA marketplace–related changes include funding cost-sharing reduction payments. Yes, but: A conservative backlash could still force deeper cuts. Ciscomani and others said that per capita caps were discussed in the meeting with the speaker, and House Freedom Caucus members are still pushing for more sweeping changes. The House Freedom Caucus posted on X in response to Johnson's remarks that "not addressing 'FMAP' is DC talk for continuing the Obamacare policy of discriminating against the people Medicaid is supposed to serve." The bottom line: Whatever Medicaid policies are put in the House bill still need to make it through the Senate and gain the approval of President Trump, who has been sticking to his position of wanting only to target "waste, fraud and abuse." Some senators in Medicaid expansion states, including Josh Hawley, have expressed concerns about the per capita caps policy. "What we don't want to do is pass a bill through the House of Representatives that doesn't even have a shot with the president or the United States Senate," said Rep. Jeff Van Drew after the meeting last night. "That's insane. It's stupid."
