Trump budget bill

NPR - The Senate is currently deliberating the sweeping Republican tax and spending bill, which President Trump wants Congress to send to him by Friday. GOP leaders have little room for error as key issues are being negotiated right up until the final vote. The Republicans can only lose three votes, and two already voted no to start the debate on the bill Saturday night. One of two who voted no is Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) Tillis has been warning that the Medicaid cuts in the package could mean shifting billions of costs to the states, NPR’s Deirdre Walsh tells Up First.

Walsh says it might be tough for the House to pass the bill if the Senate approves it, as Republicans have already signaled issues with the changes made. The bill boosts federal spending for border enforcement and the military and increases the debt ceiling by $5 trillion to avoid a default this summer. The bulk of cuts in the bill come from changes to Medicaid, Walsh says. The changes would include adding work requirements for many enrolled now and adjusting the way the states finance their Medicaid programs. Congress’ nonpartisan scorekeeper says the changes to Medicaid could mean almost 12 million Americans lose coverage.