Nexstar – Congress continues to discuss the law of the law of beautiful President Donald Trump (OBBA) – Overall local policy agenda and extension of tax cuts. But as the White House approaches the savings of US taxpayers and reduce spending, Democrats express their concerns about the changes in the Medicaid program and the additional nutrition assistance program.
The changes specified in Snap and Medicaid – and other provisions on the draft law – can have great effects in Texas.
Surprising changes
According to non -profit organizations Texas feedingTexas issued an estimated $ 7.2 billion of Snap benefits in the fiscal year 2024. In May, more than three and a half million Texas are qualified to obtain Snap, according to the country. Currently, the federal government is submitting a bill for all benefits, even when the states run it. But under the Senate version of the draft law, most states – including Texas – will now pay part of the program.
Countries that have an error rate of payment-the average amount on which the state is increasing and the initial benefits of the recipient-now more than 6 % to pay anywhere from 5 to 15 % of the cost. Alex Jackers, head of politics and calling for the cooperative economic policy group, said that the unexpected cost may put countries in a difficult situation.
| Payment error rate | The percentage of the sudden state is responsible for |
| 0-5.99 % | 0 % |
| 6-7.99 % | 5 % |
| 8-9.99 % | 10 % |
| 10 %+ | 15 % |
“The way this beneficiaries harms is that countries do not have the money approval of the budget to capture hundreds of millions of dollars in new spending,” said Jackers. “In particular, if they do not know if they will be responsible for 5 % next year, 10 % in the following year, 15 % in the following year, it makes it very difficult the budget.”
“The countries may not be able to pay the costs of the program and can reduce the benefits or completely cancel the program.
However, the states that have an error rate less than 6 % will continue to get full assistance from the federal government, which is an incentive to distribute benefits more accurately. Jacgos said that improving accuracy will require more funding for the program, not less. It worries that the recipients are punished for the mistakes made by the countries.
“This is not only punishable by those who have obtained inappropriate payments again … He is punished entirely from the population in Texas and in other countries based on error rates from the state program,” said Jacz.
Currently, Snap beneficiaries are crowned in three months of using the program in a three -year period of time, unless they have done work requirements. While the current structure allows exemptions for those who suffer from school -age children who are more than 54 years old, OBBA will create strict work requirements for lamps. Once children are 15 years old (instead of 18), parents will not be exempt from work requirements under the Senate version of the draft law. Also, the draft law raises the age of exemption from adults, the two body, who are able, without those who are able, work requirements from 54 to 64.
State Jin Jin Wu, D-Huston, described the changes to pick up a “disaster awaiting its occurrence” of Texas. His primary interest in how the discounts affect children during the summer, when they do not receive school lunch.
Wu said: “This highlights cruelty, the absolute goal of what is going on.” “We are talking about the most vulnerable people in our entire case, people who are desperate, and people are starving, and with great, these are poor and desperate children because they are not in school.”
Changes in medical aid
Another main change comes to Medicaid, which provides health insurance for low -income Americans. The draft law will create work requirements for medicaid, which means that the recipient will be asked to obtain a job to receive benefits, with exemptions for those with disabilities and children.
OBBA will also change Medicaid by converting some cost to states, which reduces medicaid expansion under the law of reasonable prices over time, although Texas did not exceed ACA expansion. The Congress Budget Office estimates that Millions of people may lose Medicaid coverage At the level of the country if the bill becomes a law. Texas had more than 4 million Join the medical aid In 2024 – about 15 % of the state’s population.
Wu specifically criticized medical aid discounts as targeting the most vulnerable.
“We are providing services to the most vulnerable and most desperate people in our society,” said Wu. “To say that we will not provide the basic health care people need to be in good health … This is not only evil, but it is really stupid.”
With the implementation of work requirements, Jacz said that his concern is that countries can spend more money on administrative costs trying to make sure that the recipients are more than work requirements than they provide through discounts.
But Senator John Cornene, R-TEXAS, have been criticized for work requirements by the “propaganda” Democrats in A. Senate Earth letterDefend them as a medicaid and Snap protection for those who deserve benefits.
“The beautiful big law will enhance and protect our safety network for those who already need it,” said Corn. “These money should not go to the two body adults.
Extending tax cuts for 2017
Ultimately, cuts in federal spending on Medicaid and Snap aim to put an invoice to extend the 2017 tax discounts and jobs, which reduced taxes in all fields, but primarily for companies and the largest. The tax discounts were for the year 2017 The ability to add More than $ 1 trillion is a deficit, and the Central Bank of Oman estimates that its extension can add more than 3 trillion dollars over the next decade. Republicans This number is disputedSaying that the 2017 tax cuts are already, so do not add to the deficit.
Jacgos spoke in opposition to discounts, accusing them of taking money from the poor and giving them to the wealthy.
“This is the option that the Republicans have made,” Jacz said. “They will reduce taxes for wealthy people and large companies, and they will pay for the emergence of basic needs programs for food help and health care on which millions of people depend.”
What about the list of artificial intelligence?
Another provision of OBBA is the ban on countries that regulate artificial intelligence technology.
Governor Greg Abbott signed Home Law Bill 149 In the law, the draft law on artificial intelligence regulations, in the legislative session for this year. But the OBBA Senate version says that countries cannot enact artificial intelligence regulations over the next five years if they want to obtain certain funds accredited in the draft law, although this is the lower restrictions of the initial home version.
Senator Angela Pakston, R McKini, Send a message Monday for the Cornene and Senator Ted Cruz, R-TEXAS, are required to remove the provision of the bill that prevents the list of artificial intelligence.
In addition to the heart of this important legislation in Texas, the suggested endowment is in
OBBA violates the principle of federalism inherent in the tenth amendment of the American constitution, “Backston wrote.
17 Republican referees also sent a message to the majority leader of the Senate John Thun, Ruby, asking to remove it from the artificial intelligence of the draft law, although Abbott was not one of the brands.
The Senate is still under discussion about its final version of the bill, and it will have to pass the house again before sending it to the president.