Latest news with #DonBacon
Axios
a day ago
- Business
- Axios
House Dems think Trump's tariffs can win them back the Corn Belt
House Democrats are convinced that President Trump's tariffs will help them plough a path to the majority through the Corn Belt. 🌽 Why it matters: The trade war, at least with China, looks like it's back on. Party strategists are banking farmers will start to turn on Trump if that trade war closes off international markets when they harvest crops this fall. "So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Friday. "Our Midwest farmers were struggling before the tariff war with low commodity prices and high input costs like fertilizers," Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told Axios. "We've lost some markets already because of the tariffs." 🔬 Zoom in: If Democrats defeat Iowa Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (who won by 800 votes) in 2024, plus Rep. Derrick Van Orden across the river in Wisconsin, they will net the three seats needed for the majority. Beating Bacon and Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) would pad their numbers a bit more. 🔎 Between the lines: Eighteen months out from the election, both parties see plausible paths to the majority. Trump has a five-point plan to win the midterms. House GOP strategists know they need to convince the MAGA base that Trump is essentially on the ballot. They are also optimistic about defeating some of the Democrats in the 13 House seats that Trump won in 2024. Both parties are still waiting on potential redistricting efforts in Wisconsin (which Democrats will control) and Ohio (which Republicans will draw). 🌆 The big picture: Democrats are also working to make the suburbs sour on Trump, like they did in 2018. This could help them knock off GOP incumbents like Rep. Mike Lawler, north of New York City, and Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) in the Denver suburbs. Freshman Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.), who represents Lansing and its environs, is another top target. There will also be battles elsewhere in the Rust Belt, with Rep. John James (R-Mich.) leaving his seat north of Detroit to run for governor. What they're saying:"Sweeping tariffs will cost House Republicans politically across the entire country, but especially in the districts where the majority will be decided," DCCC chair Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) told Axios. "They hit even harder in districts dependent on agriculture, as farmers get crushed by higher costs and fewer customers from Trump's trade wars." Other Republicans profess not to be too worried. "While the left cries wolf, prices continue to fall, and the economy is booming under President Trump and Republicans in Congress," said Mike Marinella, a spokesman for the NRCC. "It's clear House Democrats have no message other than pathetic fear-mongering and distractions from their failures." - The intrigue: Trump and Republicans have other ways to appeal to farmers' bottom lines.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
GOP lawmaker blasts 'dumb' Trump comment on Zelenskyy despite 'perfect' criticism of Putin
A House Republican sharply criticized comments President Donald Trump made regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, flatly calling some of them "dumb." In a Truth Social post, Trump first called out Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the foreign leader "has gone absolutely CRAZY!" and is "needlessly killing" — but then the president pivoted to slam Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, declaring, "Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don't like it, and it better stop." In a statement to Fox News, Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., opined, "The first half of this message is perfect, the rest is dumb. Trump is attacking President Zelensky while Putin bombs Ukrainian cities and it is misguided. Moral ambiguity while one nation invades another is hurting Trump's credibility. Putin is making a mockery of Trump, and Trump keeps attacking Zelensky." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response by publication time. Bacon, an outspoken supporter of Ukraine, has asserted that the U.S. and "Allies must arm Ukraine to the teeth," slap Russia with maximum sanctions and seize Russian assets. "It is a time for honesty. Peace talks are having zero effect on Putin. His goal is to dominate Ukraine & he won't stop until he realizes he cannot win. The U.S. & Allies must arm Ukraine to the teeth, sanction Russia to the max, & confiscate the $300B in overseas Russian assets," Bacon posted Sunday morning. Zelenskyy discussed Russian attacks in a Monday post on X. "Our air defense forces and rescuers were working all night. The Russian army launched the largest number of drones against our cities and communities since the beginning of the full-scale war — 355 attack UAVs, mostly 'Shaheds.' There were also 9 cruise missiles. Sadly, there are injured people and damage to civilian infrastructure," Zelenskyy noted in the Monday post. "Like any criminal, Russia can only be constrained by force. Only through strength — the strength of the United States, of Europe, of all nations that value life — can these attacks be stopped and real peace achieved," he declared.
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
In pro-military Nebraska, a lawmaker's stand over Hegseth tests the GOP
OMAHA — A few weeks ago, the Republican congressman who represents this fervently pro-military section of Nebraska took a stand against the man in charge of the Pentagon. Rep. Don Bacon, a retired Air Force general who once commanded the nearby Offutt Air Force Base, last month became the first — and to date only — GOP lawmaker to gamble with his political future by demanding the ouster of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Concerns rise over medical coverage losses from ‘big, beautiful bill'
Doctors, patients and health experts are bracing for massive coverage losses as House Republicans are poised to impose Medicaid work requirements as part of the 'big, beautiful bill' encompassing many of President Trump's legislative priorities. They are warning that a blizzard of red tape and administrative hurdles will strip people of needed health care. The requirements would apply to everyone aged 19 to 64, with certain exceptions. States wouldn't be able to waive them. According to partial estimates released by Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee, nearly 5 million people would lose Medicaid coverage. GOP lawmakers say they are fine with those consequences, even those who have said they oppose cutting Medicaid benefits, because the requirements will only target the 'able-bodied' people who should be working but choose not to. 'I like work requirements,' said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.). 'People that are able-bodied, mentally healthy and all that should be working if you're working age. Able-bodied people still get Medicaid, but you should be looking for work, trying to improve your skills or working. And I think most Americans want that.' Groups such as the disabled, pregnant women and people who are in prison or rehabilitation centers would be exempt from the requirements. Those people, Republicans say, are the truly needy. But someone who qualifies would need to prove they are exempt, which would require submitting the correct forms and documentation — in the correct order — at the time they apply for Medicaid and after they are already enrolled. GOP leaders even seem likely to move up the start date for the work requirements. That accelerated time frame would front-load much of the savings, but also the coverage losses, meaning millions of people could be losing Medicaid in the run-up to the 2028 presidential election. Work requirements currently account for the largest savings in the health portion of the legislation: about $301 billion over seven years. Those savings come from removing millions of people from coverage, and there is no provision in the legislation to connect them with jobs or other sources of coverage. 'It's not like they're saving money by reducing costs or making people healthier. If the feds are saving money, it's because the states are spending it or people aren't getting health care. I mean, there's no magic efficiency in these proposals,' said Jennifer Wagner, director of Medicaid eligibility and enrollment at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank. Georgia is currently the only state with a Medicaid work requirement. It's part of the state's partial Medicaid expansion; people who earn up to the federal poverty level can be eligible for coverage, but only if they complete the requirements. Tanisha Corporal, 47, of Atlanta, is a social worker who needed health insurance after her nonprofit job ended last summer. She said she submitted an application three times over the digital portal, only to have her file disappear. She appealed; her appeal was denied. 'I would email, wouldn't get responses. Or I'd get, like, very short responses that were not clear, or were not true,' she said of her experience trying to navigate the state's verification system. She eventually spoke up during public comments about the program, and her application was finally approved in March. During those months, she went without insurance. She postponed an annual mammogram she gets because of a family history of breast cancer. Her college-aged son dislocated his finger and was scared to go to the doctor because of the cost. She eventually paid the bill after her application for Medicaid was approved retroactively. Opponents of work requirements say stories like Tanisha's will be the norm nationwide if the legislation passes. 'What I believe you're doing, not intentionally, is figuring out every way possible for them not to qualify, either because they can't fill out the paperwork [or] they don't know how to do it,' Energy and Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) said in the early morning hours Wednesday, as the committee was slogging through a marathon session to debate and advance the provisions. According to health policy research group KFF, there is no epidemic of nonworking adults on Medicaid. According to a KFF analysis, nearly two-thirds of the 26.1 million adults ages 19-64 covered by Medicaid in 2023 were working; nearly 3 in 10 were not working because of caregiving responsibilities, illness or disability, or due to school attendance. 'We're talking about low-income people to begin with, often with very complicated lives. You know, shifting hours, if they're in part-time work, shifting jobs. So, you know, any of those folks could, could easily fall through the cracks,' said Larry Levitt, vice president of health policy at KFF. Work requirements also represent a major cost shift to states. According to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, spending on upgrades to Georgia's online eligibility and enrollment system represents the largest proportion of total program costs. It was almost five times higher than spending on health care benefits for enrollees. The legislation would provide $100 million for states to implement registration and enrollment verification — spread across 40 states and D.C. that expanded Medicaid. Work requirements have been a central feature of the Republican vision of turning Medicaid into a welfare program for the disabled and most in need, rather than a health insurance program. During the first Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services actively encouraged states to apply for waivers to institute them. Officials at the time argued that work requirements were a pathway out of poverty. Arkansas was the only state to implement a work requirement. The program began in 2018 but was struck down by a federal judge in 2019. In just the first five months, more than 18,000 people lost coverage. Only a very small share regained coverage the next year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
18-05-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Concerns rise over medical coverage losses from ‘big, beautiful bill'
Doctors, patients and health experts are bracing for massive coverage losses as House Republicans are poised to impose Medicaid work requirements as part of the 'Big, Beautiful Bill.' They are warning that a blizzard of red tape and administrative hurdles will strip people of needed healthcare. The requirements would apply to everyone aged 19 to 64, with certain exceptions. States wouldn't be able to waive them. According to partial estimates released by Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee, nearly 5 million people would lose Medicaid coverage. GOP lawmakers say they are fine with those consequences, even those who have said they oppose cutting Medicaid benefits, because the requirements will only target the 'able-bodied' people who should be working but choose not to. 'I like work requirements,' said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.). 'People that are able-bodied, mentally healthy, and all that should be working if you're working age. Able-bodied people still get Medicaid, but you should be looking for work, trying to improve your skills or working. And I think most Americans want that.' Groups such as the disabled, pregnant women and people who are in prison or rehabilitation centers would be exempt from the requirements. Those people, Republicans say, are the truly needy. But someone who qualifies would need to prove they are exempt, which would require submitting the correct forms and documentation—in the correct order—at the time they apply for Medicaid and after they are already enrolled. GOP leaders even seem likely to move up the start date for the work requirements. That accelerated time frame would front-load much of the savings, but also the coverage losses, meaning millions of people could be losing Medicaid in the runup to the 2028 presidential election. Work requirements currently account for the largest savings in the health portion of the legislation; about $301 billion over seven years. Those savings come from removing millions of people from coverage, and there is no provision in the legislation to connect them with jobs or other sources of coverage. 'It's not like they're saving money by reducing costs or making people healthier. If the feds are saving money, it's because the states are spending it or people aren't getting health care. I mean, there's no magic efficiency in these proposals,' said Jennifer Wagner, director of Medicaid eligibility and enrollment at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank. Georgia is currently the only state with a Medicaid work requirement. It's part of the state's partial Medicaid expansion; people who earn up to the federal poverty level can be eligible for coverage, but only if they complete the requirements. Tanisha Corporal, 47, of Atlanta, is a social worker who needed health insurance after her non-profit job ended last summer. She said she submitted an application three times over the digital portal, only to have her file disappear. She appealed; her appeal was denied. 'I would email, wouldn't get responses. Or I'd get, like, very short responses that were not were not clear, or were not true,' she said of her experience trying to navigate the state's verification system. She eventually spoke up during public comments about the program, and her application was finally approved in March. During those months, she went without insurance. She postponed an annual mammogram she gets because of a family history of breast cancer. Her college-aged son dislocated his finger and was scared to go to the doctor because of the cost. She eventually paid the bill after her application for Medicaid was approved retroactively. Opponents of work requirements say stories like Tanisha's will be the norm nationwide if the legislation passes. 'What I believe you're doing, not intentionally, is figuring out every way possible for them not to qualify, either because they can't fill out the paperwork [or] they don't know how to do it,' Energy and Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) said in the early morning hours Wednesday, as the committee was slogging through a marathon session to debate and advance the provisions. According to health policy research group KFF, there is no epidemic of non-working adults on Medicaid. According to a KFF analysis, nearly two-thirds of the 26.1 million adults ages 19-64 covered by Medicaid in 2023 were working; nearly three in ten were not working because of caregiving responsibilities, illness or disability, or due to school attendance. 'We're talking about low-income people to begin with, often with very complicated lives. You know, shifting hours, if they're in part-time work, shifting jobs. So, you know, any of those folks could, could easily fall through the cracks,' said Larry Levitt, vice president of health policy at KFF. Work requirements also represent a major cost shift to states. According to the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute, spending on upgrades to Georgia's online eligibility and enrollment system represents the largest proportion of total program costs. It was almost five times higher than spending on healthcare benefits for enrollees. The legislation would provide $100 million for states to implement registration and enrollment verification — spread across 40 states and D.C. that expanded Medicaid. Work requirements have been a central feature of the Republican vision of turning Medicaid into a welfare program for the disabled and most in need, rather than a health insurance program. During the first Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services actively encouraged states to apply for waivers to institute them. Officials at the time argued that work requirements were a pathway out of poverty. Arkansas was the only state to implement a work requirement. The program began in 2018 but was struck down by a federal judge in 2019. In just the first five months, more than 18,000 people lost coverage. Only a very small share regained coverage the next year.
