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The Medicaid legislation being touted by President Donald Trump’s and congressional Republicans contain budgetary cuts that I believe are senseless, heartless, unethical and unchristian. For the more than 72 million Americans covered by Medicaid — 21 percent of our population — if these cuts are enacted, it’s projected that millions of working citizens will lose their Medicaid, with the probability of resulting deaths, and untold increases in medical illnesses. Democrats in Congress are totally opposed to these Medicaid cuts.
The related U.S. House Republicans’ taxation proposal, supported by President Trump, is also, I believe, immoral, draconian and uncompassionate. House Republicans propose a tax bill that, if signed into law by the president, will provide massive tax breaks for the wealthy by authorizing $4.5 trillion of tax reductions over a 10-year period, with about half of the tax breaks going to the most wealthy, and we, the other roughly 95 percent, receive the other half. The proposal also includes roughly $2 trillion in federal spending cuts that Republicans propose over the 10-year period.
How caring, moral and sensible it would be if congressional Republicans and President Trump allocate half of $4.5 trillion tax reductions to we, the 95 percent. Then they should apportion the remainder, and the additional $2 trillion in budget cuts to shortfalls in Medicaid, Social Security, Medicare and other discretionary programs.
Democrats have been proposing similar funding priorities for years but Republicans continually block their proposals.
Rich Stuart
Thomaston