The Senate voted in the early morning hours of February 21 to pass a budget resolution that will provide the blueprint for the first of two potential reconciliation bills. The resolution passed along a mostly party-line vote of 52-48, with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) serving as the only Republican to join Democrats in opposing the resolution.
With the resolution passed, the Senate committees will begin drafting legislative language according to the instructions provided. The bill would provide over $340 billion in additional spending for military and immigration enforcement and proposes at least $5 billion in cuts from energy-related programs and potentially through changes to Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as “food stamps.”). With Republicans in control of the House, Senate, and White House, they can use reconciliation to pass a bill without any support from Democrats. “Reconciliation” is a legislative process that allows for faster consideration of a bill by limiting debate time and suspending the Senate’s “filibuster” rule, allowing a bill to pass the chamber with a simple majority of 51 votes, rather than the 60 votes usually required.
The House is expected to consider its own version of the budget resolution as soon as this week. In contrast to the Senate’s “skinny” resolution, the House’s proposal would advance Trump Administration priorities by providing additional funding for the military and immigration enforcement while also extending a series of tax cuts primarily benefiting the wealthy and corporations slated to expire at the end of the year. To offset the huge spending increase, the House resolution proposes commensurate massive cuts to energy funding and vital safety net programs, including Medicaid and SNAP.
While housing assistance has not been named as a potential target for cuts, the anti-poverty programs being considered play a crucial role in economic stability for people and families with low incomes by helping them put food on the table and receive medical care. The financial assistance these programs provide also promotes housing stability: by helping families afford the cost of food and other necessities, more money is left over at the end of the month to ensure rent is paid. States can also use Medicaid to cover health-related social needs, including housing.
Threats to Medicaid – which serves over 7.2 million low-income people around the country – have triggered widespread outcry from advocates around the country, including people who rely on Medicaid for healthcare and other needs. Public opposition to the proposed cuts is creating divisions among House Republicans, who can only afford to lose three votes to pass their resolution on the floor.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness launched a Take Action page for advocates to quickly and easily contact their elected officials and urge them not to support cuts to Medicaid.
Take action here: tinyurl.com/3c2ntnnw.