Republicans Just Dropped a Major Bomb Into Trump's Tax Bill That Would Blow a Hole in Medicaid

WASHINGTON—Early Monday afternoon, the Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee dropped a major bomb regarding the tax bill that the majority is trying to slip through the Senate in a fashion that denies the Democratic minority the opportunity to filibuster it. From Politico:

The Senate Finance Committee’s newly released draft would incrementally lower the allowable provider tax in Medicaid expansion states starting in 2027 from the current 6 percent until it hits 3.5 percent in 2031. The dial-down would not apply to nursing or intermediate care facilities.

That would be a huge departure from the House-passed bill, which would put a moratorium on states’ ability to raise their provider tax beyond the current 6 percent. It’s also likely to spark fierce pushback from a coalition of GOP senators who were already worried that the freeze would negatively impact rural hospitals in their states. Republicans are expecting the forthcoming Medicaid language will have to be further negotiated.

I have yet to see "fierce pushback" from rural GOP senators on anything, so I'm not standing on my head waiting for it this time around. The folks at KFF saw this one coming back when the House passed its version of the Big Plug Ugly, and issued a paper on provider taxes and how they work. In short, the House Republicans passed a bill that would cripple the Medicaid system. This newly proposed version would blow a hole in it.

Monday afternoon’s session included much discussion about Senator Mike Lee’s descent into terminal dickitude. In his own quiet way, Senator Richard Durbin read Lee for filth. Better though was Senator Tina Smith who cornered Lee outside the chamber and read him the riot act. From The Washington Post:

When Lee poked his head in the door to vote, Smith walked briskly across the chamber and out into the hall and asked where Lee had gone. She said she found him in a nearby room where Senate Republicans were meeting to discuss the latest details of the tax-and-spending bill they are drafting. She asked to talk with him. “I said, ‘People like you and me don’t talk to each other that much, but this feels like something that we really need to talk about face to face,’” Smith said.

Even stronger still was the letter Smith’s Deputy Chief of Staff Ed Shelleby sent to the members of Lee’s staff:

It is important for your office to know how much additional pain you’ve caused on an unspeakably horrific weekend. I am not sure what compelled you or your boss to say any of those things, which, in addition to being unconscionable, also may very well be untrue.

But that is not the point. Why would you use the awesome power of a United States Senate Office to compound people’s grief? Is this how your team measures success? Using the office of US Senator to post not just one but a series of jokes about an assassination — is that a successful day of work on Team Lee? Did you come into the office Monday and feel proud of the work you did over the weekend?

You exploited the murder of a lifetime public servant and her husband to post some sick burns about Democrats. Did you see this as an excellent opportunity to get likes and retweet[s]? Have you absolutely no conscience? No decency?

Not sure, but I suspect the answer is some form of the word, "No." (Smith later revealed that her name had been on the suspect's kill list. Which makes me wonder why Senator Smith didn't Preston Brooks ol' Mike Lee into next Tuesday. Minnesota Nice, I guess.)

The tax bill itself came out shortly thereafter and the Medicaid provision was as advertised. Senator Mike Crapo, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee made a pitch to what was described as a “skeptical” majority caucus meeting. And, so far, the recalcitrant Republicans are at least pretending well that they are not sold on it. Rand Paul is against everything. Ron Johnson doesn't believe his people are serious enough about... The Deficit. And, in general, the proposals released by the Senate on Monday set up a massive brawl with Speaker Moses and his House majority. From The Washington Post:

The Senate Finance Committee released its proposals Monday afternoon, and they are some of the most controversial in the mammoth legislation. The panel is responsible for codifying trillions of dollars in tax cuts and pays for them largely by slashing Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for low-income individuals. The measure differs substantially from what the House narrowly approved just weeks ago. The House suggested increasing the maximum benefit for the child tax credit, a tax break for families with qualifying children, to $2,500; the Senate suggested cutting it to $2,200 while tying it to inflation.

“We’re all going to take it in stride. The House and us, we’re all in agreement that we’ve got to do something that can pass,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), a key intermediary between Senate and House tax-writers.

Oh, dear god in heaven. This guy is a "key intermediary"? Can't they all just agree that Mike Lee should be shunned by all other humans and bitten by every passing dog for the rest of his natural life? Can't we all just get along?