Medicaid: On the Chopping Block

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12
PROGRAM #10711 12:00 PM PT

Medicaid: On the Chopping Block. 

The Republican-led Congress is threatening deep Medicaid cuts to fund President Trump’s plans for tax cuts and border security. At stake is health care coverage for about 80 million poor and disabled people, including millions of children. A broad coalition of hospitals, governors and consumer advocates are calling on Congress to spare Medicaid. Slashing Medicaid funding would hit California hard, especially immigrant residents.

Guest: Héctor Hernández-Delgado, Senior Attorney, National Health Law Program, Los Angeles, CA.

Closing the Department of Education. President Trump is expected to sign an executive order directing White House officials to begin the process to eliminate the Department of Education. Since ending the agency will require an act of Congress, Trump plans to push for Congress to pass legislation. What’s the future of the Education Department’s functions, including federal money to public schools, college financial aid, federal student loans, and enforcing civil rights laws in schools? What would be the impact on students, families, schools and colleges? How are Republicans in Congress reacting?

Guest: Noel Candelaria, Secretary-Treasurer, National Education Association-NEA, Washington, DC.

States Sue Over Cuts to Rural Teachers Training. Eight Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration over cuts in funding for programs to train teachers and address the ongoing teacher shortage in rural communities. Last month, the Education Department announced it was ending teacher training programs because they involved diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Guest: Montserrat Garibay, Former Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director, U.S. Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition, Austin, TX.

Photo: Hush Naidoo Jade Photography/Unsplash

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