Latest news with #BillCassidy
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana Congressman Cleo Fields speaks on ‘The Big Beautiful Bill'
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Congressman Cleo Fields sharply criticized a newly passed federal bill, calling it damaging to Louisiana residents and favoring the wealthy at the expense of the poor. 'I really do not see how it is beautiful for Louisiana because of the impact it is going to have on the people of Louisiana,' Fields said. He pointed to a $4.4 billion tax break for the wealthy included in the legislation, which also slashes more than $1 trillion in healthcare funding, potentially leaving millions without insurance. Fields said roughly 260,000 Louisiana residents could lose coverage, including 36,000 in his own district. The congressman also condemned a $1.1 billion proposed cut to public broadcasting, saying it would harm rural parishes in his district, where many residents rely on public media during hurricanes and other natural disasters. In response to the bill, Fields outlined three new proposals: a teacher loan forgiveness program for educators who serve eight years in Louisiana public schools, universal early childhood education starting at age two, and a measure to allow SNAP recipients to use benefits for grocery delivery in food deserts. 'It's not as controversial as it may sound, because I think we all want people to have healthy foods,' Fields said. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy defended the legislation, saying it would benefit workers, students, patients, and seniors across the state. 'We help those on Medicaid by strengthening the program and ensuring that those on it receive the care they need,' Cassidy said. 'For most seniors, we cut taxes and protected Social Security. We also included a $50 billion rural hospital fund to preserve access to care in rural areas.' Cassidy added that he, President Trump, and fellow Republicans are united in 'putting Americans first' through the bill. 'We're working together to secure these wins for people in Louisiana—and there's more to come,' he said. Latest News Gunman kills four, including NYPD officer, in Manhattan skyscraper shooting New Orleans Saints defensive line shines in padded practice Louisiana Congressman Cleo Fields speaks on 'The Big Beautiful Bill' New Orleans Saints safety Julian Blackmon finally teams up with Brandon Staley Zachary Rouses, shopping center prepares for major upgrades Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Wall Street Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Politicians Don't Understand Young Workers
Regarding 'Democrats Attack Gig-Worker Benefits' (Review & Outlook, July 23): Expanding benefits to more people isn't partisan—it's common sense. A poll conducted last year found that a majority of Americans, including 71% of Democrats, supported companies like DoorDash providing benefits for independent workers and keeping independent contractor status. Now members of Congress from both parties can deliver just that. Sen. Bill Cassidy's (R., La.) legislation is an important step toward making it easier to expand portable benefits. The bill generated thoughtful discussion at a recent Senate hearing, not only from Republicans on the committee but also from Democrats such as Sens. Tim Kaine (D., Va.), John Hickenlooper (D., Colo.), Andy Kim (D., N.J.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D., Del.).
The Hill
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hill
AARP endorses bill to prevent upcoding in Medicare Advantage
In a statement Thursday, AARP noted that upcoding is expected to increase care costs for Medicare Advantage enrollees by $40 billion this year. The No UPCODE Act was introduced by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) earlier this year. The bill would disincentivize upcoding by developing a risk-adjustment model using two years of diagnostic data as opposed to one, limiting the use of unrelated medical conditions when estimating the cost of care, and bridging the gap between how patients on Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare are assessed. In a letter to Cassidy and Merkley, AARP senior vice president for government affairs Bill Sweeney wrote, 'While many Medicare beneficiaries appreciate the flexibility and ease of use that MA provides, we are concerned that upcoding leads to both inflated payments to insurance plans and higher premiums for American seniors.' 'These resources would be better spent strengthening Medicare, such as by providing dental, hearing, and vision coverage,' Sweeney added. 'This bill addresses a problem both Republicans and Democrats have labeled as waste, fraud, and abuse. AARP agrees the No UPCODE Act protects seniors by preserving benefits and eliminating waste,' Cassidy said in a statement Thursday. 'When companies upcode, taxpayers foot the bill and patients get nothing. That's wrong.' While the Trump administration has railed against waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid, the vast majority of Medicare payments are made properly. As KFF found in its analysis of fiscal year 2024 payments, 94.4 percent of Medicare Advantage payments were made properly, with improper Medicare payments totaling $54.3 billion.
Wall Street Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
A Risky Plan for Social Security
The Social Security system's trustees in late June issued a warning that the system's trust fund will be depleted by 2033. A few weeks later, Sens. Bill Cassidy (R., La.) and Tim Kaine (D., Va.) proposed the first bipartisan Social Security reform plan in decades. The legislation, the senators say, would establish a 'sovereign wealth fund' to help fill Social Security's $25 trillion funding gap without raising taxes or reducing benefits. The Cassidy-Kaine plan may get a warm reception from the Trump administration, which also favors a sovereign wealth fund and pledges never to cut Social Security benefits. But if the rescue plan sounds too good to be true, that's because it is.
Wall Street Journal
22-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Democrats Attack Gig-Worker Benefits
Senate Democrats are breathless about Americans losing government healthcare, but they're dead set against expanding private coverage. They're attacking a plan to help gig workers get benefits—merely because unions won't get a cut. Louisiana GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy released several bills last week that would shield companies from a regulatory onslaught if they decide to offer health or retirement plans to their contract workers. Delivery drivers for Uber, Amazon and other 'gig' platforms would be able to get these benefits without the risk that courts or federal agencies would reclassify them as full employees.
