Washington Update: Week of May 22

3 MIN READ
Washington Update

Budget & Appropriations

  • President Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget was released May 23 and includes dramatic cuts to safety-net programs, as well as international development programs.
  • The budget plan cuts more than $1.7 trillion from mandatory safety-net programs, including SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), Medicaid, refundable tax credits for low-income working families, and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). This level of cuts assumes that the $880 billion in Medicaid cuts made in the American Health Care Act, recently passed by the House and being considered by the Senate, becomes law and then cuts at least an additional $865 billion in safety-net program spending.
  • The Senate is not looking to pass a budget resolution until after they have completed their health care bill. While the fiscal year 2017 budget season ended on a high note, we have our work cut out for us for the 2018 cycle. These budget proposals are expected to include deep cuts to both domestic and international non-discretionary and mandatory spending.
  • SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) is cut by roughly $193 billion, about a 25 percent reduction over 10 years. The earned income tax credit and child tax credit are cut by $40.4 billion, and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) cut by $21.6 billion. Medicaid is also cut by $610 billion.
  • Some of these cuts would be achieved by imposing stricter work requirements, limiting eligibility, and shifting more of the cost of the programs to states.
  • In addition to deep cuts in mandatory spending, we also expect to see $54 billion in cuts to discretionary programs next year, alone. Domestically, that includes eliminating funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). In the International Affairs budget, the president eliminates food aid, McGovern-Dole, development assistance, and makes deep cuts to global health programs.
  • The budget also proposes tax reform that would include lowering the top income tax rate to 35 percent, and eliminating loopholes and deductions. The budget also includes a request for $200 billion in infrastructure spending.

Act Now!

President Trump’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2018 cuts more than $1.7 trillion from programs that help move millions of Americans out of hunger and poverty. It also eliminates international development assistance programs at a time when 20 million people are at risk of starvation due to famine in Africa and the Middle East.

Call (800-826-3688) or email your representative and senators and urge them to oppose cuts to critical programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, refundable tax credits, and international development.

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