Lines Are Drawn In Capitol Hill Budget Negotiations
Medicare is among the flashpoints in the negotiations between House and Senate Republican negotiators as they try to reach agreement on a budget blueprint for next year and further into the future.
The Associated Press:
Talks Begin On Capitol Hill Budget Measure
Lawmakers quarreled Monday over Medicare, taxes and almost $40 billion in unrequested money for overseas war-fighting as House and Senate negotiators kicked off work on a Republican budget blueprint for next year and beyond. (Taylor, 4/20)
McClatchy:
Congress Starts Work On Slashing Trillions From Federal Budget
The two GOP budget resolutions envision deep spending cuts above $5 trillion over 10 years to get to a balanced budget. The president’s budget proposal doesn’t balance, boosts spending on education and infrastructure and is paid for with a $320 billion tax hike on the rich that will never get past a Republican Congress. Similarly, GOP plans envision repealing the Affordable Care Act, something the president is sure to veto. (Hall and Douglas, 4/20)
All the while, President Barack Obama invites lawmakers from both parties to the White House -
The Associated Press:
Obama Plans Reception For Overhaul Of Medicare Payment Plan
President Barack Obama has invited Democratic and Republican lawmakers to the White House for a reception thanking them for their work on legislation permanently changing how Medicare pays doctors. The event will be held Tuesday in the Rose Garden. Obama signed the legislation on Friday, marking a rare bipartisan achievement and ending years of last-minute fixes. Obama said then that he wanted to act quickly without ceremony to allow for the new payments. He said he would have lawmakers to the White House this week. (4/20)