Truthout is an indispensable resource for activists, movement leaders and workers everywhere. Please make this work possible with a quick donation.
Months after ramming through deficit-exploding tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations, President Donald Trump and the GOP are now looking for programs to slash to make up the difference — and they’re starting with children’s healthcare.
According to a Washington Post report late Monday, Trump is “sending a plan to Congress that calls for stripping more than $15 billion in previously approved spending,” $7 billion of which would come from the broadly popular Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
“Not much surprises me anymore in American politics. But this is despicable on every level,” wrote Rep. Barbara Lee in response to Trump’s proposed cuts. “But this is despicable on every level.”
The #GOPTaxScam gave a trillion dollars to billionaires & massive corporations. Now, Republicans want to gut the Children’s Health Insurance Program to pay for it.
Not much surprises me anymore in American politics. But this is despicable on every level. https://t.co/8KhY2xz4OM
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) May 7, 2018
Described by one Trump administration official as “the biggest rescission request that has ever been sent to Congress,” the proposal needs a mere majority in both the House and Senate to pass.
Speaking with the Post on Monday, Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC) said the Trump administration has assured Republicans that this package of spending cuts is just the first of many.
As the Post reported, CHIP and is just one over over 30 programs the White House is moving to slash.
After handing out giant tax cuts to the rich & big corps, #Trump, in an effort to appease radical conservatives, wants to take healthcare away from many kids to cover some portion of the $2T increased national debt created by the #TrumpTaxScam. https://t.co/JWTeqcOc42
— For Tax Fairness (@4TaxFairness) May 8, 2018
“This proposal is a shameful betrayal of children,” Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.) wrote in response to reports of Trump’s proposal. “This administration and congressional Republicans passed a massive tax giveaway to their donors and big corporations, and now they want vulnerable children to pay for it.”
25 Years of Truthout: An important fundraising appeal
This September, Truthout is celebrating 25 years of publication. For over two decades, we have been a trusted source for fiercely independent journalism thanks to readers like you.
As we look to the next 25 years, we have launched a special fundraising campaign. At this moment, we have a goal to raise $27,000 in the next 24 hours.
We are asking for your support at this juncture because we face greater threats than ever before in our organizational history. Trump and his MAGA allies are determined to control the information ecosystem, and movement-based organizations are subject to dangerous censorship and scrutiny.
If you can support Truthout with a one-time or monthly donation, you will make a significant impact on our work and our legacy. Anything you can do makes a difference!