CfG’s McIntosh: A Medicaid for SALT Tradeoff Gets Us to Yes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – “Last week, Club for Growth issued a statement supporting the Ways and Means Committee title of the reconciliation bill. Despite passage through the Committee, some Members of the House continue to negotiate a key provision known as the SALT deduction. Meanwhile, the Energy and Commerce Committee’s title left many areas for potential improvement through reforms to Medicaid without cutting benefits. Club for Growth has conducted new polling which was released earlier today, which shows the Americans People approve of Medicaid reforms so that states pay their fair share and the federal match rate decreases from 90-10 to 70-30 ratio. If this reform is adopted in the bill it would ensure it is demonstrably deficit neutral and also nullify any changes to the SALT deduction that are currently being negotiated. Accordingly, with the state fair share provision (FMAP reform) inclusion, Club for Growth would issue a statement of support via a key vote alert in favor of the full reconciliation bill.” – Club for Growth President David McIntosh

BACKGROUND: By greater than a 2 to 1 margin (68% to 29%), two-thirds believe waste, abuse, and fraud in the Medicaid system is a problem.

To protect and preserve Medicaid benefits, the majority (57% to 23%) supports a proposal to change the formula to require states to pay their fair share. Instead of states only paying $1 for every $9 of federal taxpayer dollars paid, the majority of voters want states to pay $3 for every $7 of federal taxpayer dollars paid. One in five (20%) are unsure.