Well, they did what they've been telling us they were going to do. The first step in Republican plan to gut Medicaid and food assistance programs was passed in the House yesterday by the MAGAt cult:
With a push from President Donald Trump, House Republicans sent a GOP budget blueprint to passage Tuesday, a step toward delivering his “big, beautiful bill” with $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $2 trillion in spending cuts despite a wall of opposition from Democrats and discomfort among Republicans.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had almost no votes to spare in his bare-bones GOP majority and fought on all fronts — against Democrats, uneasy rank-and-file Republicans and skeptical GOP senators — to advance the party’s signature legislative package. Trump made calls to wayward GOP lawmakers and invited Republicans to the White House.
The vote was 217-215, with a single Republican and all Democrats opposed, and the outcome was in jeopardy until the gavel.
The lone Republican opposed was Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), a crackpot who voted no because the cuts weren't deep enough!! These are programs that roughly 80 million Americans count on. Some of the semi- lucid Republicans see trouble on the horizon (ya think?!):
Even as they press ahead, Republicans are running into a familiar problem: Slashing federal spending is typically easier said than done. With cuts to the Pentagon and other programs largely off limits, much of the other government outlays go for health care, food stamps, student loans and programs relied on by their constituents.
Several Republican lawmakers worry that scope of the cuts being eyed — particularly some $880 billion over the decade to the committee that handles health care spending, including Medicaid, for example, or $230 billion to the agriculture committee that funds food stamps — will be too harmful to their constituents back home.
All this to give corporations and the Elon Musks of America $4.5 trillion in tax breaks!
So, what's their answer to making deeply unpopular and harmful cuts, then? Why, what do Republicans always do? They lie:
GOP leaders insist Medicaid is not specifically listed in the initial 60-page budget framework, which is true. Johnson and his leadership team also told lawmakers they would have plenty of time to debate the details as they shape the final package.
But lawmakers wanted assurances the health care program and others will be protected as the plans are developed and merged with the Senate in the weeks to come. (our emphasis)
They will go down using every mirror and every smoke machine to lull their credulous cult members into believing that the shaft they're feeling in their nether regions is a love offering from the Malignant Fascist. They can always resuscitate Joe Biden and blame him.
Speaking of the Malignant Fascist, if that lie was the shot, here's the chaser:
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., said Trump has promised he would not allow Medicaid to be cut.
“The president was clear about that. I was clear about that,” Lawler said. “We will work through this, but the objective today is to begin the process.” (our emphasis)
Well, now you know for sure! The pathological liar has promised he wouldn't allow Medicaid to be cut. (But he didn't say "butchered," so technically, The Truth!). We're pretty sure Lawler has enough experience with the track record of the Malignant Fascist and his transactional, whatever- benefits- me ethos, so he's either a fool or a charlatan (we say both) to trust anything coming out of the Malignant Fascist's mouth.
The bill faces weeks of committee hearings, and the usual Congressional sausage- making process, then reconciliation with a Senate- passed bill, which is only modestly less draconian. In the meantime, we don't want to hear any more "But this isn't what we thought we voted for."
BONUS: Grab your phone.
Last night, every single swing district Republican voted to cut Medicaid so they can shovel cash to their billionaire backers. If you’ve got an R representative, call now to let them know you’re furious: indivisible.org/resource/cal...
— Leah Greenberg (@leahgreenberg.bsky.social) February 26, 2025 at 7:41 AM
[image or embed]
(Photo: smug Speaker Mike "Moses" Johnson / Kent Nishimura, Getty Images)
I force myself to listen to RW radio for at least 10 minutes a day. I made it 8 this morning. The host had to go to commercial because his voice was breaking. He was into a soliloquy about how America was back, the pride and love in seeing the border cleaned up, the new fiscal sanity in Washington, the fact that people were being held accountable, it was simply too much. He needed a moment to pull himself together. Sigh.
ReplyDelete🤨 It is always frustrating how any politician can find a way to lie right to your face, but can also argue that they never really lied to your face!! 🤬
ReplyDeleteOn Saturday, Rep. Mike Lawler (Liar-NY), appeared on the CNN comedy news program, "Have I Got News For You," which I highly recommend. Lawler managed to be a little amusing...until he was pressed on the upcoming budget vote. He claimed "I will never vote to cut Medicaid benefits." Comedian Michael Ian Black leaned in and stated "so you'll be voting no on the bill." Lawler repeated 3 times and Black did the same leaning closer to Lawler's face each time. Finally, Lawler said "well, this is just the opening resolution, not the final vote." And, Lawler got heckled by the audience!!
Lawler voted yes on Tuesday and it is quite clear he knew on Saturday he could get away with it...he did not vote to cut Medicaid, he voted to tell the Energy and Commerce committee to cut $880B! Lying Liar Lawler has clean hands [not!] when his constituents are starving and their kids cannot go to the doctor!! 🤬🤬
Seafury -- it's amazing that RW radio jock could be heard, with his head all the way up his ass! But kudos to you for listening and reporting!
ReplyDeleteCleora-- voters have to make sure that these cowards and liars are held accountable for once. Hope Lawler's opponent does enough oppo research to catch him lying his ass off.