Democrats Threaten to Allow Medicare Cuts to Save Obamacare
- GOP tax bill triggers automatic PAYGO cuts next year
- Pelosi, Hoyer want individual insurance mandate retained
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House Democrats are threatening to allow automatic spending cuts triggered by the Republican tax bill to take effect next year unless Speaker Paul Ryan ends an attempt to cripple Obamacare.
Under a 2010 law known as PAYGO, the $1.5 trillion reduction in government revenue caused by the Republican tax cut legislation would trigger years of across-the-board cuts to programs including Medicare starting next year. Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have vowed the cuts won’t be imposed, but they would need Democratic votes to waive the law.