Republicans Declare War on the Most Vulnerable
- Carolann Connor
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Trump's tax cuts for the rich will save the top 1% of income earners more than $1 trillion in the next 10 years, more than $75,000 annually for the richest households. To offset this give away, the Republicans slashed an estimated $700 billion in funding for Medicaid over the next decade. They also cut $186 billion for SNAP (food stamps) benefits. And they have allowed insurance premium tax credits relied upon by some 22 million Americans to expire in the Republicans latest attack on Obamacare. These are not just numbers. The Republican cuts to the social safety net will harm real people, especially the most vulnerable. Here are some of the details.
Medicaid cuts will cause millions to lose their benefits
The Republican cuts in Medicaid funding may cause up to 12 million to lose some or all of their benefits. In North Carolina alone, the state will lose about $50 billion in funding over the next 10 years, and 670,000 of our fellow citizens may lose coverage. Much of this is attributable to the bogus new work requirements being imposed. The Republicans claim that such requirements are necessary to stop give aways to the undeserving. However, pilot projects in Arkansas and Georgia have shown that work requirements do not result in more Medicaid recipients working, for the simple reason that few recipients in fact can find work in compliance with the new rules. But this has never really been the real concern. The Republicans' aim has always been to construct bureaucratic barriers to deny or delay providing benefits.
Cuts to SNAP funding are causing a crisis in food insecurity
Some 42 million Americans received SNAP food assistance in 2023. In North Carolina, 1.4 million of our neighbors, including 46,000 veterans, received aid. In the 11th Congressional District, represented by Chuck Edwards, 90,000 rely on this assistance. According to the Congressional Budget Office, approximately 4 million people may lose some or all of their benefits because of funding cuts and rules changes. In addition, other relief programs, such as the Second Harvest Food Bank, will suffer a 50% funding cut. Highlighting the mean spiritedness of these cuts, at the same time the Republicans have added more reporting requirements for eligibility, they also eliminated a credit for the costs of maintaining internet service to enable applicants to report. it is estimated that this will cut recipients' benefits by $10 per month. This may not seem like much, unless you are already living on the knife's edge of poverty.
The ending of ACA tax credits will cause millions to lose their health insurance
The Republicans have also rolled back a great success story in compassionate government. More than 22 million Americans gained health insurance coverage after the Biden administration enacted an enhanced insurance premium tax credit for health insurance purchased under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). These credits were set to expire at the end of this year. The Democrats have repeatedly tried to pass legislation to extend the credits. But the Republicans have refused, even shutting down the federal government for over one month rather than extend the credits. As a result of the expiration of the credits, it is projected that some 4 million Americans will lose health insurance coverage. And for those obtaining insurance under the ACA, premiums are soaring up to an 114% increase. In North Carolina, 160,000 citizens are likely to lose their insurance coverage and 880,000 will see the cost of their premiums double.
These safety net cuts are causing real hardship for the most vulnerable
The Republican cuts to governmental safety nets could not have come at a worse time for us in western North Carolina. Helene impoverished many of our neighbors and has left many others still trying to recover. Local food bank and relief organizations are reporting a surge in food bank visits and meals served. In my neighborhood, a local church has posted street signs for free meals. The Republican simultaneous cuts to health care and food aid forces families to choose between food and health care and contribute to basic food insecurity in our communities. It is past time to throw out Chuck Edwards and the Republicans who are intent on doing the billionaires' bidding rather than to help those most in need.
Weekend Joe
Tom Abram
Joe Elliott
Check out other informative Weekend Joe posts covering issues such as changes in Medicaid, Chuck Edwards' push-back against a free press and more: https://www.myhcdp.com/news/categories/weekend-joe
Comments