Budget Reconciliation Saga Continues With Parliamentarian Ruling
President Donald Trump took to the so-called campaign trail today to advocate for passage of the tax-cutting Big Beautiful Bill and said he wants the legislation on his desk by July 4. But the “Byrd Bath” process and the Senate parliamentarian threw a monkey wrench into the works today. The parliamentarian, who interprets Senate rules (especially as they relate to the reconciliation process), agreed with Democrats that several provisions on healthcare are not allowable under the Byrd budget reconciliation process rules. In general, provisions in a budget reconciliation bill must be very germane to the process to allow the bill to pass in the Senate with a simple majority and not with a supermajoriy vote of 60.
Majority Leader John Thune, R-SD, said he will not seek to overrule the parliamentarian on a majority vote for fear of setting a huge precedent for what is allowed in budget reconciliation processes in the future. The GOP may rewrite some provisions to see if they can be approved, but the ruling potentially creates huge problems for leaders in both chambers.
While moderates in the House and Senate will like that certain Medicaid and Exchange cuts may not make it, conservatives are insistent that sufficient reductions are in the bill to offset tax cuts and some spending increases. As well, they desperately want to rein in the size, scope, and spending in Medicaid. The struck reductions could mean a loss of spending reductions of several hundred billion dollars over a decade.
The provisions ruled not allowable under the Byrd rule include:
- Capping and limiting provider taxes
- Restricting Medicaid drug spread pricing
- Barring government health insurance participation and funding for those without verified immigration status (all government programs)
- Reductions in federal matching dollars to states that have expanded Medicaid and use funds to offer Medicaid coverage to immigrants without legal status
In other news, Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-MT, said he is a no vote on the Senate version due to a mandate to sell off up to 1.2 million acres of public lands.
Additional news: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/trump-the-next-100-days/5369987-live-updates-trump-hegseth-iran-supreme-court-senate/ and https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5371828-zinke-senate-gop-bill-public-land/?tbref=hp and https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/provider-tax-changes-some-medicaid-funding-restrictions-ineligible-reconciliation and https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/medicaid-changes-dont-meet-senate-rules-parliamentarian/ and https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5371008-thune-senate-parliamentarian-medicaid/?tbref=hp and https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5370671-medicaid-trump-bill-senate-parliamentarian/ and https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5371057-tuberville-senate-parliamentarian-medicaid/ and https://thehill.com/homenews/5371186-hardline-house-conservatives-senate-parliamentarian-ruling/
#budgetreconciliation #trump #congress #medicaid #aca #obamacare #exchanges #providers #coverage
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5372232-senate-republicans-medicaid-ruling-challenge
LA Governor Vetoes GLP-1 Coverage
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a key provision from the state’s budget plan that would have required coverage of weight-loss drugs for state employees and families. The governor cited concerns about rising costs.
#weightlossdrugs #glp1s #drugpricing
— Marc S. Ryan
