One of the House’s leading Democrats on health care issues, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch), is cautioning that if Republicans win a continuing budget battle, it could result in significant Medicaid funding cuts that would have disastrous effects on hospitals, community health centers, and other institutions.
In order to outline Republicans’ objectives, Pallone, the leading Democrat on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, held a press conference today in Perth Amboy. His committee would be required to make at least $880 billion in cutbacks under a budget reconciliation proposal that started to move through the House last week. Pallone stated that these cuts would unavoidably have to come from Medicaid, either fully or partially.
We’re not slashing Medicaid, the president and [Elon] Musk both keep claiming. “It’s just not true,” Pallone stated. Without making significant cutbacks to Medicaid, our committee, which oversees the program, will not be able to achieve that level of reduction. I’d bet that Medicaid cuts would account for the full $880 billion.
Indeed, New Jersey Republicans like Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) have echoed Donald Trump’s repeated statements that he has no intention of affecting large, vital programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. However, Pallone contended that Congress would be forced to make drastic cuts as a result of the House GOP’s budget blueprint.
Pallone cautioned that in the absence of those hundreds of billions in funding, hospitals and community health centers (like the one where he convened today’s meeting) would have to close in addition to Medicaid recipients in New Jersey and elsewhere suffering.
He said that the extent of it would destroy hospitals, community health clinics, and the [Children’s Health Insurance Program]. It’s not limited to Democratic regions. Indeed, I would contend that rural communities will bear the brunt of these losses. Even in regions like Perth Amboy and the Northeast, the situation is far worse in rural hospitals and rural community health centers.
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Woodbridge) and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez (D-Perth Amboy), who represent Perth Amboy in the assembly, accompanied Pallone at the press conference and both issued a warning regarding the necessity of Medicaid funding.
According to Coughlin, it’s more of a moral duty than a governmental duty. How come we don’t give a damn about those who are most struggling? How do you look in the mirror, everyone who considers themselves to be on the religious right?
The GOP budget resolution committee vote last week marked the beginning of a lengthy process that will ultimately lead to a reconciliation bill that will decrease spending to prolong Trump’s 2017 tax cut legislation. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), the only Democrat on the Budget Committee, voiced her strong disapproval of the measure, but the Republican majority eventually overturned her and other Democrats.
Watson Coleman characterized this resolution as a Republican sellout of the middle class. As one of the committee’s newest members, I feel compelled to express how wicked I think this proposed budget resolution is. I’ve read the Bible and am familiar with Jesus’ teachings, unlike the president. I don’t remember one of his lectures being to cut off aid from the weak, the destitute, or the huddled masses in favor of those who horde wealth.
Committees will be able to start working on where and how to impose funding cuts if and when the budget resolution is approved by Congress. New Jersey is at the center of that battle, with Energy & Commerce, which has jurisdiction over a wide range of issues, at its center. In addition to Pallone, the committee’s top Democrat, two other New Jerseyans, Rep. Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City) and Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), are among its new members.
Menendez has already criticized any potential Medicaid cuts on his committee, saying they are ridiculous and not something we can tolerate. However, Kean, a swing-district congressman and one of the more moderate members of his caucus, is a member of the majority party and might have significant influence over whether Medicaid or other program changes are really approved.
During the news conference today, Pallone expressed his hope that some Republicans will join the battle against what he described as an impending catastrophe.
“I think we can convince some Republicans who represent Medicaid-heavy areas, especially rural areas, to join us in saying this is unacceptable,” he said. We truly want to put an end to this, so I’m not just stating this to terrify everyone.
