President Trump’s proposed bill has raised concerns in Louisiana about potential Medicaid cuts and the closure of rural hospitals, with state leaders divided on its impact.
Critics of the bill highlight that over one million people in Louisiana rely on Medicaid, and cuts could affect healthcare for families and lead to rural hospital closures. Some local lawmakers suggest a nationwide fund could provide financial support to struggling rural hospitals. “There will be a special fund for rural hospitals, so for those rural hospitals having a tough time, there’s going to be a $50 billion nationwide fund that will actually help our folks in Louisiana,” said Senator Bill Cassidy.
State Rep. Cleo Fields countered, saying, “When you take a person’s healthcare, they have this reporting requirement. It sounds good when you say able people ought to work in order to get a benefit, several states in this nation already tried that, it doesn’t work.”
The bill includes a requirement for able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work, volunteer, or attend school for at least 20 hours a week. If passed, the bill would raise some standard deductions and temporarily ease taxes on tips and overtime. It would allow workers who typically receive cash tips to claim a deduction of up to $25,000, excluding taxpayers with incomes over $150,000. The bill also limits borrowing from the government for education, capping unsubsidized loans at $20,500.
Cassidy says, “There are provisions in this bill that cut their taxes, which increases their child tax credit, which encourages investment, particularly in our state, to create better-paying jobs and more of them.”
Other lawmakers like Fields are more critical, “At the same time, it’s going to give a tax break to the wealthy of the wealthy in our country. So you are literally taking money from the poor and working class and giving it to the richest of the rich.”
READ MORE:Trump’s spending bill sparks fear of Medicaid cuts, hospital closures in Louisiana
