GOP bill would cut states’ budgets

Obama speaks out against Republican plan

WASHINGTON, Sept 21, (Agencies): Most states would take a stiff budgetary hit if the latest Senate GOP health care bill becomes law, according to an analysis released Wednesday. That would likely result in more uninsured Americans.

The study by the consulting firm Avalere Health found that the GrahamCassidy bill would lead to an overall $215 billion cut to states in federal funding for health insurance, through 2026. Reductions would grow over time. “A reduction in federal subsidies for health insurance is likely to result in more people being uninsured,” said Caroline Pearson, a senior vice president at Avalere, which specializes in health industry research. The study itself did not make estimates of the impact on insurance coverage.

States that voted for President Donald Trump would not be immune from cuts, though deep-blue California and New York face the deepest reductions. West Virginia, a Trump bastion, would see a $1 billion cut from 2020-2026.

The Avalere analysis comes as Senate leaders are rushing a vote on the legislation by the end of the month, before the expiration of special budget rules that allow passage by a simple majority. The findings could take on added importance, because the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says it can’t complete a full analysis of the bill by the Sept 30 vote deadline.

Named for Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the bill would repeal much of the Obama-era Affordable Care Act and limit future federal funding for Medicaid. That federal-state health insurance program covers more than 70 million low-income people, ranging from newborns to elderly nursing home residents. Compared to current projected levels, impacted by the monster storm, which knocked out Puerto Rico’s entire electricity grid after roaring ashore as a major Category Four hurricane.

“Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and ordered Federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts,” the White House said in a statement.

Federal aid includes grants for home repairs and temporary shelter as well as lowcoast loans to pay for uninsured property losses.

Maria has thus far been blamed for 10 deaths in the Caribbean, and though the storm has swirled back out to sea, Puerto Rico is now girding for potentially catastrophic Medicaid spending would be reduced by more than $1 trillion, or 12 percent, from 2020-2036, the study found.

The bill would also end Obama’s health insurance subsidies and put money into a big pot that would distributed among the states. Governors and legislatures would have broad leeway on how to spend the money, and could also seek waivers from ACA insurance requirements. Though insurers would still have to cover people with medical problems, in some states they may be able to charge them more. The Avalere study also found that over 20 years cuts could potentially total more than $4 trillion, but that scenario appears unlikely. It’s based on a literal reading of the bill, under which legal authority for the big pot of money to subsidize coverage would expire after 2026. Typically, Congress renews expiring programs.

Losers

Still, the study found more losers than winners. Thirty-four states would see cuts by 2026, while 16 would see increases. Among the losers are several states that were key for President Donald Trump, including Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio.

Meanwhile, former US president Barack Obama used a rare public appearance Wednesday to speak out against the latest Republican efforts to upend his signature healthcare reforms.

Obama — appearing at an event with Bill and Melinda Gates in New York — said it was “aggravating” to see Republicans move forward with a plan that he said would make Americans worse off.

Defending his health care reforms ahead of another repeal vote in the Republican-controlled Congress that could take place as soon as next week, Obama said his healthcare legislation is not perfect

flash flooding.

“If possible, move to higher ground NOW!” the National Weather Service station in San Juan warned in a tweet.

Now a Category Three storm packing 115 mile (185 kilometer) per hour winds, Maria is forecast to pass north of the Dominican Republic Thursday as it moves toward the Turks and Caicos Islands, according to the US National Hurricane Center. (AFP)

Prize, JFK’s chair up for bid:

A Nobel prize, a rocking chair commissioned by President John F. Kennedy and a souvenir from President Donald Trump’s wedding to first lady Melania, are among the treasures up for grabs at a Los Angeles auction this but that “people are alive today because of it.”

“When I see people trying to undo that hard-won progress for the 50th or 60th time with bills that would raise costs or reduce coverage, or roll back protections for older Americans or people with preexisting conditions, the cancer survivor, the expecting mom or the child with autism, or asthma, for whom coverage once again would be almost unattainable, it is aggravating.” “And all of this being done without any demonstrable economic or actuary or plain common sense rationale, it frustrates,” Obama said.

“And it is certainly frustrating to have to mobilize every couple of months to keep our leaders from inflicting real human suffering on our constituents.”

It’s divisive and difficult, but the Republican drive to erase the Obama health care overhaul has gotten a huge boost from one of Washington’s perennial incentives: Political necessity.

In the two months since Senate Republicans lost their initial attempt to scuttle Obama’s statute, there’s fresh evidence GOP voters are adamant that the party achieve its long-promised goal of dismantling that law. This includes conservative firebrand Roy Moore forcing a GOP primary runoff against Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala., who’s backed by President Donald Trump, and lots of money, plus credible primary challenges facing Republican Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Nevada’s Dean Heller.

“Republicans campaigned on this so often that we have a responsibility to carry out what you said in the campaign. And that’s as pretty much as much of a reason as the substance of the bill” to support it, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, told Iowa reporters in a conference call Wednesday.

fall.

Julien’s Auctions says its “Icons & Idols: Hollywood and More” event will take place on Nov 17. Available for bidding is a Nobel Prize medal for chemistry awarded to a pair of researchers in 1956. Presidential history buffs may be interested in a replica of Kennedy’s Oval Office rocking chair that was commissioned by the president as a gift. Also available is a souvenir mini wedding cake from Trump’s 2005 wedding.

Memorabilia from stars like Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and Grace Kelly will also be up for bid. (AP)

Shaq to back Democrat:

New Jersey native and former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal is backing Democrat Phil Murphy in this year’s contest to succeed Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

Murphy campaign spokesman Dan Bryan says O’Neal will formally endorse Murphy on Monday. He had no further details.

O’Neal backed Christie in his 2013 reelection bid, calling the governor a “great man” and even appearing in an ad for him. Christie cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

Murphy is leading GOP Lt Gov Kim Guadagno in the polls ahead of the Nov 7 election.

Guadagno’s camp did not address O’Neal’s decision to endorse a Democrat this year. Instead, her campaign criticized Murphy over his promise to hike taxes, including on millionaires. And her spokesman Ricky Diaz said, “The lieutenant governor is proud of the growing support she’s receiving from hardworking taxpayers.”

O’Neal isn’t the first high-profile figure to get involved in the race.

This week, Murphy’s campaign announced that former President Barack Obama would campaign for the Democrat. Former Vice-President Joe Biden also backed Murphy and appeared with him before the June primary. (AP)