Me, the last two days:
What to expect when we’re not expecting a healthcare bill
TLDR: No more money for Medicaid and crumbs for the individual market
The Hill has a report on what the Senate expects to unveil on Thursday as their new tax cut bill funded by Medicaid cuts:
senators said the Medicaid sections of the bill would remain largely unchanged from the initial draft, a blow to moderates who had pushed for easing cuts to Medicaid. That means a new cap on Medicaid spending will still drop after 2025, leading to deeper cuts opposed by moderates. And funds for ObamaCare’s expansion of Medicaid will still end in 2024.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), a member of leadership, said “what we had in the original bill has not changed with regard to Medicaid.”….
There’s going to be some money going to additional subsidies,” he said. “Someone making $12,000 a year getting a $6,000 deductible plan probably doesn’t work so well.”A “stability fund” that helps bring down premium costs is also expected to be increased, senators said.
They are talking about either delaying or removing two upper income tax cuts; investment income taxes may not be cut by 3.8% points nor the added on Medicare tax on very high incomes. This money might be redirected towards a little more cash to the individual market or mainly used to take away a Democratic talking point in attack ads that this bill is solely a tax cut bill paid for by the poor and the sick.
What to expect when we’re not expecting a healthcare billPost + Comments (24)
Afternoon Open Thread
We all want to talk about the distinction between light and not light treason… Or more realistically Espionage Act versus campaign finance violations.
Open thread.
And You Get a Lawyer and You Get a Lawyer…
More lawyers: Rob Goldstone hires Bob Gage of New York. The Agalarovs hires Scott Balber.
— Rosalind Helderman (@PostRoz) July 11, 2017
Open thread!
And You Get a Lawyer and You Get a Lawyer…Post + Comments (72)
“But his emails!” is NOT a distraction, but…
Does it feel like the bridge under the Trump Train is suddenly kinda spongey? Is the blanket of lies starting to unravel? Yeah, I feel it too. But here’s a thought: maybe the best way to accelerate the collapse is to defeat the AHCA or B-CRAP or whatever they’re calling it this week.
I’m not saying don’t pay attention to the emails that portray Uday as an eager collaborator with a hostile foreign power — hell yes, pay attention to it. But the Republican Party Before Country Party will be an immovable obstacle to clearing out the nest of traitors in the White House until it is made clear to them that Trump is a useless impediment.
Hand the Republicans a stinging defeat on healthcare, brand Trumpcare with the “LOSER” label, and Trump will come unglued. When Trump comes unglued, he lashes out. When he lashes out, Trump hits indiscriminately, sometimes smacking GOP senators, which makes fellow Republicans frown.
So, if we want to see our enemies driven before us and hear the lamentation of their women, the first step may be to defeat their abomination of a healthcare reform bill. That would not only stop a massive transfer of wealth from working people to fat cats, it could set off internecine warfare. I’ll call my senators now and save my popcorn for then.
UPDATE: The Senatortoise from Kentucky understands the stakes. Via WaPo:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Tuesday that he will delay the August recess by two weeks to complete work on health-care and other issues.
“In order to provide more time to complete action on important legislative items and process nominees that have been stalled by a lack of cooperation from our friends across the aisle, the Senate will delay the start of the August recess until the third week of August,” McConnell said.
In addition to health care and appointments, the Senate will also devote time to passing a defense authorization bill “and other important issues.”
Work on the Senate’s health-care bill, meanwhile, remained uncertain Tuesday. Senate leaders still planned to release a revised bill by the end of this week and hold votes beginning next week, according to a senior GOP leadership aide.
Keep calling, faxing, writing, etc.
“But his emails!” is NOT a distraction, but…Post + Comments (151)
WTF but his e-mails edition
I just can’t figure out what is out there that makes releasing this tweet a good idea. Read about 3/4ths of the way down:
Update 1: A respected NatSec attorney’s reaction:
I literally do not understand what the hell @DonaldJTrumpJr is doing right now. This is simply too stupid to fathom.
— Bradley P. Moss, Esq (@BradMossEsq) July 11, 2017
Another Russiagate Open Thread: Projection That IMAX Can Only Envy
EXCLUSIVE: Russian lawyer who met with Trump Jr. tells @KeirSimmons: "I did not have Clinton info they wanted" https://t.co/6r1SGlFy01
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 11, 2017
If there’s anything a smart Russian lawyer would understand, it’s how to manipulate the half-witted offspring of a couple of crooked ‘developers’ working for a paranoid oligarch…
“They wanted it so badly.” Russian lawyer tells NBC about efforts by Don Jr., Jared and Manafort to get dirt on Hillary Clinton. pic.twitter.com/pgwQV8G3FK
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) July 11, 2017
Also, Russian lawyer tells NBC it was the Trump campaign that approached her about getting dirt on Hillary, not the other way around.
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) July 11, 2017
NYT: Don Jr was told before mtg that Clinton dirt was part of Russian govt effort to aid Trump
6/9/16: Mtg w/Russian
7/24/16: He said this pic.twitter.com/XlzPJAWsd7
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) July 11, 2017
Another Russiagate Open Thread: Projection That IMAX Can Only EnvyPost + Comments (199)