Austerity Awakens: Medicaid and SNAP Face the Force of Fiscal Cuts!

Cutbacks There Are. Big Ones Hmmm?

Hmm passed by the House this budget package has. Medicaid and SNAP targets they are. 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' they call it. Beautiful I'm not sure. Cuts of $700 billion to Medicaid $300 billion to SNAP it includes. Largest in history these cuts are. 'A lot of people will lose benefits,' says Jennifer Wagner. Entitled to them some are. A path to the dark side this could be.

The Debt It Grows. Pay for Tax Perks We Must.

Add $3 trillion to the nation's debt this bill will they say. Tax perks for the wealthy it includes. Medicaid and SNAP targeted for savings they are. 'We don't want any waste fraud or abuse,' says President Trump. But leaving it he says he is? A slippery slope this is. Like sand through fingers money flows.

Work Requirements A New Hope?

Work they must to receive aid. 80 hours a month the requirement is. Expansion of the Affordable Care Act affected it will be. Exemptions there will be but harder to get. Earlier implementation they want. No time for public comment it seems. Guidance by 2025 they say. Rushed it is. Like learning the Force too quickly dangerous it can be.

Redeterminations More Frequent They Become.

Every six months eligibility redeterminations must be done. Compared to 12 months now this is. A big impact this will have they say. Access to health coverage harder it will make. The opposite of the intended effect it may have. Lose access to services they may. A vicious cycle this becomes.

SNAP Benefits Reduced They Will Be.

Food assistance millions may lose. Work requirements expanded they will be. Ages 55 to 64 affected they are. Households with children too. Limited waivers and exemptions there will be. States must contribute more they must. The Force strained it is. Like a stretched rubberband ready to snap.

Senate the Final Frontier. Debate There Will Be!

The Senate it is up to now. Consider the changes they must. Propose their own perhaps they will. The future uncertain it is. 'Always in motion is the future,' I say. Hope we must have. 'Do or do not. There is no try.' Use the Force we must to find a solution. A balance we must seek. 'May the Force be with you… always.'