No. of Recommendations: 14
Winner, winner, chicken dinner (though not for poor people).
Just as the Senate was about to begin a two-bill process for enacting Republicans’ legislative agenda, Trump interrupted with a play call: He preferred the House’s approach of stuffing border, defense, energy, spending cuts, and tax cuts into “one big, beautiful bill.” Senate Republicans proceeded to work on their blueprint for two bills anyway, and for good reason: If (or when) the House’s one-bill approach collapses in another legislative horror scene, the GOP is going to need a quick backup plan. House Republicans have set themselves up for something that’s going to be miserable to achieve. Per their budget, they need to find $2 trillion in cuts to mandatory spending programs in order to realize their massive tax cuts, and they’re looking to take nearly half of that from Medicaid. As those who recall the failed 2017 attempt to slash Medicaid will remember, such a move could come at a steep political price, and it’s one that moderate members are already insisting they don’t want to pay. And you know what happens when moderate House Republicans show a little spine? No, really, that’s a question. What happens? We’ve never seen it.
Slate
