DC Debrief: Spending cuts threaten Medicaid and other agencies

Congressional Recess and Reconciliation Package Progress

1. Scott Mitchell and Alex Cameron discuss the slow news week and the upcoming Easter recess.
2. Alex Cameron highlights the progress on the reconciliation package, noting the House's successful passage of the joint budget resolution.
3. The budget resolution provides instructions for writing the reconciliation package, with different targets for the House and Senate.
4. The House agreed on a goal of $1.5 trillion in cuts, while the Senate version initially required only $4 billion in cuts.
5. The focus will shift to committees in both chambers to agree on the details of the reconciliation package, aiming for completion by the end of May.

Impact on States and Medicaid Changes

1. Scott Mitchell shifts the discussion to the impact on states, particularly Oklahoma, regarding Medicaid changes and tax cuts.
2. Alex Cameron notes the difficulty for states in planning with uncertain federal policies and tariffs.
3. Republicans are hesitant to make Medicaid cuts, but achieving the $880 billion in savings target without Medicaid cuts seems challenging.
4. Democrats assume that states will bear more responsibility, while Republicans dismiss this as scare tactics.
5. The need for significant cuts to achieve a balanced budget in 10 years, including entitlement programs like Medicaid, is emphasized.

Challenges and Uncertainties in Budget Targets

1. Alex Cameron explains the challenges in identifying waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid to meet the $880 billion savings target.
2. The potential for finding some savings through program eliminations and Doge recommendations is acknowledged.
3. The difficulty in achieving the ambitious targets without significant cuts to entitlement programs is highlighted.
4. The states will closely monitor the situation, as the details of the work have not yet been made public.
5. The conversation concludes with Scott Mitchell and Alex Cameron discussing the fast-changing news cycle and the importance of staying informed.