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FIRST ON FOX: A conservative suppose tank that performed a key position in shaping President Donald Trump’s “one huge, lovely invoice” is circulating a brand new roadmap of suggestions for Republicans’ second act.
The Financial Coverage Innovation Heart, which kinds itself as “EPIC For America,” has been circulating a brand new memo with key congressional GOP figures in latest days, a supply aware of the group’s plans informed Fox Information Digital.
The memo, which was obtained by Fox Information Digital, advises lawmakers to broadly push for additional Medicaid and regulatory reforms, crack down on federal {dollars} for presidency pensions and pupil loans, and use fiscal coverage to increase conservative targets on abortion and transgender remedy.
Passing Trump’s huge agenda invoice regardless of razor-thin majorities within the Home and Senate was a significant victory for Republican leaders. EPIC, which hails the invoice as successful, argues that continued reforms are wanted for significant fiscal reform.
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A brand new conservative coverage memo is suggesting targets for a second “huge, lovely invoice” selling President Donald Trump’s agenda. (Getty Photos;AP Photos)
“Sadly, even with the victories for the American folks within the OBBB, our work is much from executed. We should rebuild an financial system that actually works for each American, whereas defending the nation’s monetary basis to make sure lasting resilience,” the memo mentioned.
“The federal authorities is quickly working out of fiscal house. Sustaining enough fiscal house is important with the intention to reply appropriately to a disaster. With out house between the fiscal restrict and the present stage of debt, elected officers is not going to have room to maneuver within the occasion of conflict, a pure catastrophe, or a recession.”
On Medicaid, the memo advises additional cuts to the cost-sharing burden on the federal authorities – generally known as the Federal Medical Help Proportion (FMAP) – for “massive, rich states” in addition to Washington, D.C.
FMAP refers back to the price at which the federal authorities matches state Medicaid funds, which is presently 50%.
The memo calls to “finish the particular Medicaid subsidy FMAP remedy” for D.C., whose minimal is 70%.
Republicans’ first price range reconciliation invoice diminished sure FMAP expansions permitted below the Inexpensive Care Act (ACA), together with for emergency take care of states that present Medicaid protection to unlawful immigrants.
In flip, EPIC advises lawmakers to reinforce private and employer-based healthcare, like Particular person Protection Well being Reimbursement Preparations (ICHRAs) and Well being Financial savings Accounts (HSAs).
Home Speaker Mike Johnson has publicly acknowledged his aim of passing additional reconciliation payments. (AP Photograph/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File)
Medicaid cuts had been one of many largest sticking factors throughout talks for the preliminary invoice and can probably be simply as politically fraught for Republicans within the second spherical. In the meantime, Democrats have been utilizing these reforms as a political cudgel, accusing the GOP of attempting to take healthcare from thousands and thousands of People.
However conservatives have seen Medicaid as fraught with waste, fraud, and abuse – insisting their reforms higher shield this system for weak individuals who actually want it.
The memo additionally advises congressional Republicans to make use of the price range reconciliation course of to “reform federal bureaucrat compensation and retirement” and “remove public sector pupil mortgage forgiveness,” amongst different targets.
On the social conservative coverage entrance, EPIC seems to view an extension of the ban on taxpayer funds to abortion suppliers as important to a second reconciliation invoice.
The primary invoice was seen as a victory for pro-life advocates in its ban on Medicaid funds for big healthcare suppliers that carry out abortions, which might have an effect on Deliberate Parenthood and different comparable organizations. However that ban is just efficient for a yr.
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Democratic leaders like Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer and Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries are already utilizing GOP Medicaid reforms as a political cudgel. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photos)
In a bit titled “Defend Life and American Values,” EPIC urges lawmakers to “prolong the prohibition of taxpayer funding for giant abortion suppliers” in addition to block Medicaid funds for gender transition care.
It additionally calls on lawmakers to “spend money on election safety” and “impose an excise tax on larger schooling establishments that enable males to take part in ladies’s sports activities.”
EPIC was based by Paul Winfree, who served as director of price range coverage throughout the first Trump administration.
The group additionally has shut ties to Capitol Hill, which it flexed throughout talks for Trump’s first agenda invoice by each recommending coverage initiatives and tailoring its recommendation by means of the varied steps of the price range reconciliation course of.
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Price range reconciliation, which can be utilized 3 times throughout a given congressional time period, permits the occasion in energy to enact broad fiscal coverage adjustments whereas sidelining the opposition – on this case, Democrats – by decreasing the Senate’s threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51.
Brittany Madni, EPIC govt vp and a former congressional aide, confirmed the memo’s veracity to Fox Information Digital. She mentioned the group would use the identical “playbook” it did throughout the first reconciliation course of.
She mentioned EPIC is seeking to provide “an preliminary suggestion to lawmakers on what to focus on, and is readying to work with Republicans by means of the varied steps of the method as particulars change and evolve.”
“Obligatory spending reform is a vital goal for precise fiscal change with the intention to stave off a debt spiral. That is why a second reconciliation invoice constructing on the wins within the OBBB is essential,” Madni mentioned.
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Two sources informed Fox Information Digital that the group’s efforts to date have included a staff-level briefing with the Republican Examine Committee (RSC), a 189-member-strong Home GOP group that serves as its personal de facto suppose tank for the Republican convention.
Most of the aforementioned proposals had been mentioned at that assembly, Fox Information Digital was informed, with EPIC being invited to talk as a part of the RSC’s new initiative to workshop a second reconciliation invoice.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has already publicly acknowledged his aim of passing additional reconciliation payments. However what a second invoice would appear like remains to be unclear.
