Medicaid shows its political clout

The fight to protect health care entitlement is driving the Obamacare repeal struggle in the Senate.

Medicaid may be the next “third rail” in American politics. Resistance to cutting the health care program for the poor has emerged as a big stumbling block to Obamacare repeal, and Republicans touch it at their political peril.

States get involved in lawsuit to shield Obamacare, saying Trump can’t be trusted
By Carolyn Y. Johnson
The Washington Post

Move Over 'Obamacare,' Trump Plan Is Now The Focus

WASHINGTON (AP) — Move over, "Obamacare." The health care debate has shifted to ideas from President Donald Trump and GOP lawmakers in Congress, and most people don't like what they see.

With Republicans in command, their health care proposals as currently formulated have generated far more concern than enthusiasm.

GOP Has No Choice But To Keep Pushing Health Care Rock Up The Hill

Who Wins and Who Loses Under Republicans’ Health Care Plan

Both Obamacare and the recent Republican replacement proposal use refundable tax credits to help people buy their health insurance. That is part of the reason the new G.O.P. bill is under fire from conservatives, who see it as a new entitlement program.

Sanctuary city funding cuts less of a concern than Medicaid: Fitch

President Donald Trump's executive order last week to cut federal funding to self-proclaimed sanctuary cities would likely not result in an impact to cities' bond ratings, Fitch Ratings reported on Monday.

Instead, a push to convert Medicaid to a block grant would likely result in a more significant effect on state and local government finances, Fitch noted.

GOP's Timeline For Getting Repeal To Trump May Be Ambitious

Empowered to Quit

Empowered to Quit is a new Urban League program that will deliver tobacco prevention and cessation services to adults in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and D.C. The goal of Empowered to Quit is to implement effective strategies that more aggressively address smoking and tobacco use among African-Americans and build healthier communities. The program will have three distinct components:

Only 26 Percent Of Americans Support Full Repeal Of Obamacare, Poll Finds

Americans continue to be divided along partisan lines over Obamacare, with an overwhelming percentage of Democrats favoring it and an equal share of Republicans having unfavorable views, according to a newly released Kaiser Family Foundation poll.

But when it comes to an actual gutting of Obamacare, there's doesn't appear to be a lot of support.