Senate Republicans release Trump agenda bill text on Medicaid, Medicare and SALT

[ad_1] WASHINGTON — Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee launched their portion of the large invoice for President Donald Trump's home agenda on Monday, with some important modifications in comparison with the Home-passed bundle.

The 549-page invoice extends the expiring Trump tax cuts and consists of provisions to slash taxes on ideas and additional time pay.

It accommodates a slew of Medicaid spending cuts and new guidelines, together with work necessities that kick in on the finish of 2026, just like the Home invoice. It additionally accommodates insurance policies to drive extra frequent checks on eligibility and more durable screenings to show lawful immigration standing, to ensure that folks to maintain their protection.

In a serious problem to Home Republicans, the Senate invoice caps federal deductions for state and native taxes at $10,000 per tax filer, preserving the established order on "SALT."

That is a lot decrease than the $40,000 restrict per filers with annual incomes underneath $500,000 {that a} key group of blue-state Republicans secured within the Home model, after making clear it's important to profitable their vote within the narrowly divided chamber.

The Senate's invoice additionally consists of modifications to Medicare together with new eligibility guidelines, together with verification of citizenship or lawful everlasting residency for seniors to maintain getting advantages.

One other change would regulate cost-sharing guidelines for "twin eligibles" on each Medicare and Medicaid. Loren Adler, a well being coverage professional on the Brookings Establishment, stated that provision "means 1.3 million low-income Medicare beneficiaries see increased premiums and/or cost-sharing, now not receiving monetary help they’re eligible for," citing an evaluation by the nonpartisan Congressional Funds Workplace.

The Senate invoice additionally swifts repeals clear power funding handed by a Democratic-led Congress in 2022, together with an electrical car tax credit score, whereas tilting the enjoying discipline again towards fossil fuels.

“I stay up for continued coordination with our colleagues within the Home and the Administration to ship President Trump’s daring financial agenda for the American folks as shortly as potential," Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the chairman of the Finance Committee, stated in an announcement.

Senate Republicans are hoping to go the broader home coverage bundle by July 4, with the purpose of sending it to Trump's desk by the tip of subsequent month.

Sen. Ron Wyden, R-Ore., the rating member of the Finance Committee, vowed that "Senate Democrats are going to battle this with the whole lot we’ve obtained."

“The Home Republican model of this invoice was already a category warfare, however Senate Republicans determined to inflict much more devastation on the lives of working Individuals to present even bigger handouts to the highest," Wyden stated in an announcement.