Latest news with #budgetproposal
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Kevin Hassett says if Senate finds Medicare abuse, then "we would look at it" in Trump bill
Kevin Hassett says if Senate finds Medicare abuse, then "we would look at it" in Trump bill White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said Sunday the Trump administration is not targeting Medicare in its sweeping budget proposal, but signaled the administration would be open to changes if senators uncover fraud or abuse as they look at the bill. "If somebody finds waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, then of course we would look at it," Hassett said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." "But there have been a lot of false stories about Medicare being on the table, and it's totally not on the table." Senate Republicans this week are working on the House-passed budget bill, dubbed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" by President Trump, which includes deep tax cuts, border security measures, and changes to Medicaid and food assistance programs. Hassett on Sunday pushed back against the idea that Republicans are targeting Medicare for cuts. "That story that got out last week was covered as our intent to go after Medicare," Hassett said bluntly. "And it was just a big fake news story." National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," June 2, 2025. CBS News Asked whether the administration would revisit the Medicare provision if the Senate identifies abuse, Hassett said they would. "I've seen a massive amount of waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid, and I've not been briefed on Medicare waste, fraud and abuse. But if they find something then, of course, we would look at it," he said. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated earlier this week that the bill will add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. Sen. Thom Tillis told Charlotte's WCNC on Thursday that he supports legislation that would address waste in the Medicare Advantage Program. This addition, he said, would not touch beneficiaries but would focus on "eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse of the Medicare Advantage program, including costly government overpayments to insurance companies." To pay for some of Mr. Trump's tax reforms, such as extending his 2017 tax cuts and eliminating tax on tips, there are cuts to several programs. Republicans have insisted they are not cutting Medicaid, and reductions in the low-income entitlement program have become one of the most charged parts of the bill. In a closed-door session with members of the Republican conference days before the bill's passage, sources in the room told CBS News Mr. Trump said, "Don't f*** around with Medicaid." House Republicans passed the bill late last month on a 215–214 vote, sending it to the Senate where GOP leaders are weighing revisions to secure enough votes under budget reconciliation rules. "What we want to see done now is we want the Senate to pass the bill, and then we want the House and Senate to work out their differences," Hassett said. "So right now, the Senate has to get the votes they need to pass the bill, and we're supporting them in that process." Some Republican senators, including Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Josh Hawley of Missouri, have voiced concerns about Medicaid provisions in the bill, particularly new monthly premium requirements for low-income recipients. Their opposition highlights ongoing uncertainty as Senate GOP leaders work to secure enough votes. The bill can't afford to lose more than four votes in the Senate, granted that all Democrats vote against it. Hawley has called the Medicaid work requirements "both morally wrong and politically suicidal." When asked about Hawley's concerns, Hassett said, "I'd have to go see what he has and talk to him about it. And I also would want to talk to the president about the specific matter. So I can't speak to that one." The administration has repeatedly argued that failure to pass the legislation could hurt the broader economy. "If we don't pass this bill, then we lose 6 to 7 million jobs and 4% GDP," Hassett said Sunday. "If we create the jobs that we have in the bill, then we're going to create a heck of a lot more insurance than what we're talking about in waste, fraud and abuse." Senate Republicans are expected to release their version of the bill in the coming days. If there are significant changes, it will then have to go back to the House for final passage before landing on Mr. Trump's desk.
E&E News
6 days ago
- Politics
- E&E News
Trump proposes fee hike for foreign visitors to national parks
Tourists to the United States could face higher costs to visit national parks under a proposal from the Trump administration. President Donald Trump's recent budget proposal for the National Park Service would introduce a surcharge on visitors from other countries. The proposal doesn't detail how much the surcharge would be, but the administration's budget summary estimates it could raise $90 million 'to keep national parks beautiful.' The proposal is part of a much larger budget plan advanced by Trump's Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and detailed in recently released documents, that would cut federal funding for national parks by roughly $1 billion. The budget also recommends transferring some national parks to state management to save costs and redirecting funds for conservation toward maintenance. Advertisement Burgum has argued that parks can be made more efficient by the reductions, while park advocates warn that parks are already understaffed and under-resourced amid record levels of tourism.
Reuters
02-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Trump budget proposes closing Northeast heating oil reserve
WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's budget proposes to shut as soon as in a few months the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve, which stores 1 million barrels of diesel and was designed to protect consumers. The reserve, created in 2000 by former President Bill Clinton, holds enough for roughly 10 days of heating homes. It has not been tapped since 2012, when it provided fuel to emergency responders in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The proceeds of a sale of the ultra-low sulfur diesel in fiscal year 2026 would go to U.S. deficit reduction, the proposal said. At current prices, revenues from a sale would be about $86 million, but closing the facility could save on maintenance costs. U.S. budget proposals lay out an administration's policies, and what lawmakers ultimately adopt often differs from White House requests. Trump's predecessor, former President Joe Biden, had proposed in November, 2022 to expand the reserve as a protection against spikes in heating oil prices and inflation after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine boosted energy prices. That plan, never put in place, would have funded purchases from the reserve from revenue from sales from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world's largest emergency stockpile of crude oil. The Department of Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the proposal to close the heating oil reserve.
Washington Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
How every House member voted on Trump's big budget bill
The One Big Beautiful Bill, which contains many parts of President Donald Trump's agenda, faced a test of Republican unity on the House floor. The House passed a sweeping budget proposal, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill, in a 215-214-1 vote on Thursday morning. Two Republicans voted against the bill, one voted 'present' and two did not vote. Vote results Position Dem GOP Total votes Supports 0 215 215 Opposes 212 2 214 Did not vote 0 2 2 Present 0 1 1 The legislation advances many of President Donald Trump's top priorities, including extending the 2017 tax cuts enacted in his first term, expanding border enforcement, and implementing deep cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and other federal programs. If enacted, it would significantly reshape the U.S. economy and federal government. The vote follows weeks of intraparty disputes, as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) scrambled to broker enough compromises to unite a deeply fractured House GOP majority. Hardline conservatives, including members of the House Freedom Caucus, objected to the bill's cost and demanded steeper spending cuts, particularly to Medicaid, and a faster start to new work requirements. Story continues below advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Republicans from high-tax, high-income states threatened to walk unless the bill raised the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions, forcing leadership into a difficult balancing act between fiscal conservatives and blue state moderates. See how your representative voted in the table below. Dem GOP Filter by state Filter by party Supports 215 Aderholt Ala. Alford Mo. Allen Ga. Amodei Nev. Arrington Texas Babin Texas Bacon Neb. Baird Ind. Balderson Ohio Barr Ky. Opposes 214 Davidson Ohio Massie Ky. Adams N.C. Aguilar Calif. Amo R.I. Ansari Ariz. Auchincloss Mass. Balint Vt. Barragán Calif. Beatty Ohio Present 1 Harris Md. Did not vote 2 Garbarino N.Y. Schweikert Ariz. Show all members Story continues below advertisement Advertisement Paul Kane and Marianna Sotomayor contributed to this report. Note: There are three vacancies in the House as of May 21. Read full bill text for H.R.1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Data from the U.S. House.
E&E News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
Zeldin backs lab in top House appropriator's district
As EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin pursues plans to gut the agency's research arm, he appeared ready Thursday to shield at least one facility: a laboratory located in the district of House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole. The work done at the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center in Ada, Oklahoma, is important and 'should be enhanced,' Zeldin told the Oklahoma Republican during a House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the Trump administration's EPA budget proposal for next year. His answer appeared to satisfy Cole, who had asked Zeldin to explain how the Kerr Center's work — which includes groundwater research and ecosystem restoration — informs EPA's ability to carry out its statutory functions. Advertisement But the lab is part of EPA's Office of Research and Development, which would effectively be dissolved as a stand-alone entity under the first phase of a restructuring unveiled by Zeldin earlier this month.
