Health care and clean energy advocates say congress’ recently passed budget bill, backed by President Trump, will have a devastating effect on the state’s health safety net and the environment.
According to numbers released by Georgia U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, about 93,000 Georgians will be kicked off Medicaid and insurance premiums will be raised for 1.2 million Georgians, plus 120,000 children will lose some or all food assistance.
Monte Veazey, President and CEO of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals says rural Georgia will be particularly hard his with 16 already cash strapped hospitals facing potential closure or reduced services. Other issues cited by critics include the work requirements for certain benefits and an increases in state contributions.
While most of the reaction to the budget bill has come from critics decrying the various spending cuts, one group that stands to benefit from the legislation is farmers, with an extra $60 billion dollars invested in farm programs.
The Georgia Public Policy Foundation says the bill’s tax cuts simply make permanent lower tax rates enacted during Trump’s first administration and says the cuts help all tax brackets across the board.
