President Trump’s so-called “America First” budget actually puts millions of Americans last. Calling for a $54 billion increase in defense spending and a corresponding $54 billion cut for non-defense domestic agencies and programs in FY2018, this “America Last” budget cuts or entirely eliminates critical investments in infrastructure, science and technological research, community development in rural and metropolitan communities, clean air and water, and the health and education of American families.
Many individuals struggling with mental illnesses have only recently begun to access the care they need, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. The Medicaid expansion and requirement that mental health be covered as an Essential Health Benefit meant that people could finally get treatment for themselves and their families.
Mar 27 2017
Rural Americans Would Lose Under Trumpcare
America’s rural communities have long faced challenges with access to affordable health care insurance and services. Doctors and hospitals are farther away, higher poverty rates lead to worse health outcomes and lower coverage rates, and older populations result in more expensive coverage pools.
Under the Republican health care plan, an estimated 24 million people will lose health coverage, including more than a million Americans who have been able to secure treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
President Trump told the nation’s governors last month that “we’re going to start spending on infrastructure, big.” But so far, the Trump Administration’s only action has been to release a budget that slashes funds for roads and bridges, train service, airports and water systems.
Mar 16 2017
Health Savings Accounts Are Not the Answer
The Republican plan would cause 24 million Americans to lose their health insurance, cut Medicaid by nearly $900 billion and take away key financial support from working Americans to give tax cuts to wealthy corporate executives.
In 2015, Congress agreed to allow the Treasury to raise the money necessary to pay all the bills for our government’s spending obligations. That agreement will expire on March 16th, 2017 and barring Congressional action, the United States will immediately breach the debt ceiling, forcing Treasury to resort to “extraordinary measures” to prevent a default.
Mar 15 2017
March Economic Snapshot of the States
These state economic snapshots survey the economic situation on the ground in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Although the U.S. economy overall continues its expansion from the Great Recession and associated financial crisis, the recovery can look very different from state to state, and even county to county. While some areas of the country have surged ahead, some regions are still struggling to regain their economic footing.
After six years and at least 60 votes in the House to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Republicans are using health care “reform” as a cover to give money to the wealthy and decrease coverage for American families. The so-called “plan” in fact merely cobbles together a handful of conservative pet projects that would put corporate executives back in charge of Americans’ health care system and help the wealthiest at the expense of hardworking American families.
Mar 08 2017
Facts on the Republican Plan to Gut Medicaid
Medicaid provides an essential lifeline to around 70 million Americans who would otherwise be unable to afford health care and plays an essential role in containing overall costs in America’s health system.[i] The Republican plan would gut $370 billion from the Medicaid program over 10 years, putting mothers, children, and the elderly at risk of being kicked to the curb and throwing state government budgets out of balance.
