Congressional Budget Office: GOP Budget Plan Will Require Cuts to Medicaid or Medicare

“I've worked my whole life, paid my taxes, and done everything right—but now, when I need help the most, Rep. Miller-Meeks and Republicans want to take it away.”

Des Moines, Iowa -- Earlier this week the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report that confirms there is no way for the Energy & Commerce committee to cut $880 billion in spending—as mandated by the budget plan passed by House Republicans last week—without taking from Medicaid, Medicare, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 

Congresswoman  Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Congressman Zach Nunn already voted for this budget plan that will hurt hardworking Iowans in order to fund more tax breaks for corporations and billionaires. Miller-Meeks serves on the Energy & Commerce Committee that will be responsible for authoring these cuts to essential health care programs and will be a key vote on advancing this plan. Approximately 102,500 (16%) of her constituents in Iowa’s 1st District are covered by Medicaid or CHIP. 

“My family and I work hard, but no matter how hard we try, it’s still a struggle to afford the basics after paying our bills. Medicaid is a lifeline—without it, my sons and I may not survive because we wouldn't be able to afford the medications and doctor visits we rely on,” Lana Rae Jensen-Prestridge from Iowa City said. “I've worked my whole life, paid my taxes, and done everything right—but now, when I need help the most, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks and Republicans want to take it away. People like me aren’t looking for handouts—we just want to survive. We need our legislators to stand up for us and protect Medicaid, not cut it.”