Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
House Passes GOP Compromise Budget Blueprint; Takes Aim At Obamacare
The Associated Press: House Adopts Compromise GOP Budget Targeting 'Obamacare'
The House Thursday adopted a compromise GOP budget that promises to speed repeal of the President Barack Obama's health care law while giving the Pentagon an additional $38 billion next year. (Taylor, 4/30)
The Hill: House Passes Budget In Win For GOP
Republican leaders have pointed to the budget framework, which balances in a decade by cutting more than $5 trillion from spending, as yet more proof that an all-GOP Congress is governing effectively. The Senate is expected to pass the combined budget next week. ... Republicans also seek $430 billion worth of cuts to Medicare, though the joint framework drops the controversial plan from Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) that offered seniors the chance to use subsidies to purchase private insurance. Medicaid, food stamps and other safety net programs would face cuts as well under the GOP plan. But for many conservatives, the major draw of the plan was the chance to repeal the Affordable Care Act through a budgetary maneuver known as reconciliation, which requires only 51 votes in the Senate. (Becker, 4/30)
Politico: House Passes Final Budget Deal
The chamber passed the framework, 226-197. It would balance the budget in 10 years without raising taxes, and pave the way for sending an Obamacare repeal to the president’s desk. The Senate will take up the measure next week. (Bade, 4/30)
The Washington Post: Budget Plan Calls For $194 Billion In Unidentified Cuts To Federal Workforce
The joint budget agreement calls for cutting that amount over 10 years from programs under the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. It oversees federal employee issues in its broad portfolio. But the agreement gives no instructions on reaching the budget savings. Just where the ax might fall remains to be seen. Given the committee’s oversight, however, federal pension benefits and the Federal Employees Health Benefits program are likely targets. (Davidson, 4/30)
