Latest news with #RobBresnahan
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The GOP's New Lie After Cutting $1 Trillion From Medicaid: We Gave It More Money!
WASHINGTON ― House Republicans who voted to pass President Donald Trump's tax bill last week know it's going to slash the federal Medicaid program by $1 trillion and kick millions of people off of their health care. But that sounds bad. And people already hate this law. So instead of saying that, Republicans are trying out a new way of talking about the bill they all voted for: just pretend they voted to increase Medicaid spending! 'I don't know how you can call any of this a cut when we are increasing Medicaid expenditures by $200 billion,' Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.) falsely claimed Tuesday on a conservative podcast, 'The Bob Cordaro Show.' Later in the show, Bresnahan also falsely claimed the law will lead to 'the largest deficit reduction in, I think, what will be 30 years.' It's not clear what the Pennsylvania Republican is talking about regarding the $200 billion, but he is being misleading at best and lying at worst. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has clearly laid out how Trump's tax-and-spending law will cut $1 trillion from Medicaid and increase the deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over the next 10 years. HuffPost is dedicated to holding lawmakers accountable and covering how their actions impact you, your community, and the country. Support journalism that demands transparency — A Bresnahan spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. In the same interview, he tried to tout that the law includes a new $50 billion fund to help rural hospitals survive the bill's devastating Medicaid cuts. But it's just simple math that $50 billion is nowhere near enough money to offset $1 trillion ― or 20 times more ― in cuts. Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), meanwhile, mused that there's been 'a ton' of misinformation about the tax law and said it actually increases federal Medicaid spending, which is false. 'Under this bill, there will be more federal money going into Medicaid under the Republican plan every single year for the forecastable duration of this bill,' Evans said last Thursday on the public radio show, 'Here & Now Anytime.' Asked what he is talking about, Evans' spokesperson Delanie Bomer said he is referring to the fact that Medicaid costs generally tend to increase every year ― a laughably weird point to make that entirely glosses over Republicans cutting $1 trillion from the program. Evans is essentially arguing that while the bill may cut $1 trillion from Medicaid and kick millions of people off of health care, the government is still paying for the increased annual costs of health care for whoever can still get Medicaid benefits. He's not talking about the elephant in the room, which is all the people who won't have health coverage at all. 'Medicaid spending is always going up,' Bomer said of Evans' argument. 'It's just going up at a lesser degree' because Trump's tax law will strip $1 trillion from the program. Asked why Evans voted for such a devastating cut to Medicaid, Bomer said the GOP congressman doesn't want 'illegal immigrants to receive taxpayer-funded health care' and wants to make sure people meet work requirements to qualify for Medicaid benefits. Except undocumented immigrants are generally not eligible for Medicaid. And hospitals can't turn them away if they need medical attention, meaning the hospitals already on the tightest financial footing — rural hospitals in particular, which serve a lot of Medicaid patients — will be hardest hit by the loss in dollars. The work requirements argument is also misleading, because Trump's tax law imposes such strict new requirements that people who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid are now likely to fall through the cracks. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) is testing out a different new way to talk about his vote for Trump's tax law: He's trying to take creditfor Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) and the state legislature rushing to pass a state budget in order to lock in a higher match of federal dollars for Medicaid in the state under Trump's law. Because Wisconsin state leaders moved quickly to do this, the state will get $1 billion in new annual funding. In more than a dozen social media posts, Van Orden keeps insisting that if it weren't for him, his governor and state legislature wouldn't have gotten this money. Except Van Orden had nothing to do with their efforts. 'Congressman Van Orden never personally advocated to the governor or our office for the hospital assessment provision to be included in the state budget until after it was clearly already part of the state budget, he had nothing to do with the hospital assessment being part of bipartisan state budget negotiations with Republican leaders, and he had nothing to do with the fact that the governor decided to enact the state budget before the federal reconciliation bill was signed,' Evers' spokesperson Britt Cudaback told HuffPost on Tuesday. Asked why he keeps trying to take credit for this $1 billion when it appears he had nothing to do with it, Van Orden said the fact that the governor signed the state budget into law at a late hour shows they were listening to him. 'The only reason [Evers] signed the bill at 1:30 a.m. was to make the deadline I spoke and wrote to him about,' he told HuffPost. 'Period. Do that math.'
Int'l Business Times
02-07-2025
- Health
- Int'l Business Times
Democrats Publicly Shame Republicans by Name Whose Voters Would Lose Healthcare Under Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'
Democratic lawmakers began naming Republican legislators who voted in favor of the Trump-backed "one big, beautiful" tax and spending bill, shaming particularly the ones whose constituents would lose healthcare as a result of the legislation. House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) listed the names of Republican representatives in swing districts who they claimed effectively voted for their constituents to lose access to healthcare and other types of assistance during a press conference held by House Democratic Leaders Wednesday morning. "Why would anyone vote for this dangerous and extreme bill? Why would Rob Bresnahan vote for this bill? More than 30,000 people would lose access to their healthcare in his community in Pennsylvania. Almost 60,000 households could lose access to food assistance in his community. At the risk of going hungry, why would Rob Bresnahan vote for this bill?" Jeffries questioned. "Why would Scott Perry vote for this bill? Almost 25,000 people in his community would lose access to healthcare. In his community in Pennsylvania, almost 40,000 households would lose access to nutritional assistance. They're at risk of going hungry. Why would Scott Perry vote for this bill?" he continued. "You see? The difference between them and us, they work for the special interests, for the rich and the shameless, for the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected. House Democrats work for the people," he added. Clark also took to the podium to continue Jeffries' shaming, calling out other Republican legislators that voted in favor of the bill. "Why would David Valadao vote for this bill? Over 65,000 people in his [California] district will lose access to healthcare if this passes. 60,000 households will lose access to their food assistance, and over 3,600 energy jobs will be lost," she said. "Why would Young Kim in California's 40th district vote for this bill either? Over 31,000 people in her communities will lose their healthcare, and 15,000 households could lose access to food assistance. Why indeed," she continued. "Well we've been told exactly where we stand. The vice president said these cuts are 'immaterial.' Mitch McConnell said people will get over it. Joni Ernst reminded us we're all going to die anyway. So at a time when most households are struggling to afford the basics, Republicans have a clear message for American families. You don't matter," she added. The spending bill ended in a tie Tuesday, leading Vice President JD Vance gave the tie-breaking vote, allowing the Senate to pass the bill with razor thin margins. The bill now heads back to the House where lawmakers will review the changes made by the Senate. Originally published on Latin Times
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WWII Army Ranger from NEPA honored with Congressional Gold Medal
Jun. 27—HAWLEY — At 100 years old, World War II veteran Sgt. Joseph Drake of Hawley is a living testament to courage and sacrifice, U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. said this week. Rep. Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, joined Congressional leaders and Presidential Cabinet members to honor Sgt. Drake with the Congressional Gold Medal — the highest honor presented by Congress. Sgt. Drake and Pfc. John Wardell accepted the medal on behalf of all WWII Army Rangers. "Today, we honor Sgt. Joseph Drake for his valor and service to our country as a WWII Army Ranger," said Bresnahan. "As a WWII Army Ranger, Sgt. Drake answered the call of duty with extraordinary bravery, scaling cliffs and storming enemy lines so that others might live in freedom. His service with the 2nd Ranger Battalion reminds us of the extraordinary bravery that helped secure our freedom." The ceremony included remarks from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and others. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor given by Congress. It recognizes individuals or groups whose achievements have made a lasting impact on American history and culture. Since the first medal was awarded to George Washington in 1776, it has honored military leaders, scientists, artists and others who have shaped our nation. To date, the award has been presented to less than 200 recipients. "This medal is not only a symbol of Sgt. Drake's heroism, but a testament to the sacrifice, grit and unbreakable spirit of every Ranger who fought beside him," said Bresnahan. "It is an immense honor to pay tribute to him today, and I am incredibly proud to represent him in Congress. Sgt. Drake's legacy and service drive the work I do in Congress every day." Bresnahan was joined in Washington, D.C., by Pennsylvania State Rep. Dane Watro, R-Hazleton. State Rep. Jeff Olsommer, who represents Sgt. Drake in the Pennsylvania State House and worked with Bresnahan to ensure the award was received, could not attend the ceremony in person. "Mr. Drake is a true local hero," said Olsommer. "It was an honor to meet him, and when I learned that he was still waiting to receive his Congressional Gold Medal, I was deeply concerned. I shared those concerns with our Congressman, Rob Bresnahan. He and his team responded immediately and worked diligently to ensure Mr. Drake received the recognition he so greatly deserves. I'm proud to have played a small part in that process. I'm thrilled for Mr. Drake and his family — and I'm incredibly proud to have him as a constituent of the 139th District." "It was a privilege to witness Sgt. Drake receive the Congressional Gold Medal today," said Watro. "He is an American patriot whose legacy will inspire generations to come and his service is an example of the extraordinary strength of our WWII heroes. I am pleased I was able to join him today for this incredible ceremony, and I thank Rep. Bresnahan for inviting me to witness this great honor." Drake was drafted on April 30, 1943, and sent to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, with the newly formed 69th Infantry Division. He later joined the Ranger Company A, 2nd Ranger Infantry Battalion, where he patrolled the area around the landing sites in search of enemy troops. He fought in some of the fiercest campaigns of the war, including the Battle of Brest, the Huertgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. He was honorably discharged in December 1945 after the deactivation of the 2nd Ranger Battalion. The Congressional Gold Medal is awarded to the World War II Army Rangers in recognition of their extraordinary bravery, sacrifice and critical contributions during the war. This medal serves as a lasting symbol of the nation's gratitude. It honors not only the courage of the Army Rangers during one of the most critical moments in modern history but also acknowledges the enduring legacy of an elite group that once numbered 7,000 and now includes just five living members. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WWII Army Ranger from NEPA honored with Congressional Gold Medal
Jun. 27—HAWLEY — At 100 years old, World War II veteran Sgt. Joseph Drake of Hawley is a living testament to courage and sacrifice, U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. said this week. Rep. Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, joined Congressional leaders and Presidential Cabinet members to honor Sgt. Drake with the Congressional Gold Medal — the highest honor presented by Congress. Sgt. Drake and Pfc. John Wardell accepted the medal on behalf of all WWII Army Rangers. "Today, we honor Sgt. Joseph Drake for his valor and service to our country as a WWII Army Ranger," said Bresnahan. "As a WWII Army Ranger, Sgt. Drake answered the call of duty with extraordinary bravery, scaling cliffs and storming enemy lines so that others might live in freedom. His service with the 2nd Ranger Battalion reminds us of the extraordinary bravery that helped secure our freedom." The ceremony included remarks from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and others. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor given by Congress. It recognizes individuals or groups whose achievements have made a lasting impact on American history and culture. Since the first medal was awarded to George Washington in 1776, it has honored military leaders, scientists, artists and others who have shaped our nation. To date, the award has been presented to less than 200 recipients. "This medal is not only a symbol of Sgt. Drake's heroism, but a testament to the sacrifice, grit and unbreakable spirit of every Ranger who fought beside him," said Bresnahan. "It is an immense honor to pay tribute to him today, and I am incredibly proud to represent him in Congress. Sgt. Drake's legacy and service drive the work I do in Congress every day." Bresnahan was joined in Washington, D.C., by Pennsylvania State Rep. Dane Watro, R-Hazleton. State Rep. Jeff Olsommer, who represents Sgt. Drake in the Pennsylvania State House and worked with Bresnahan to ensure the award was received, could not attend the ceremony in person. "Mr. Drake is a true local hero," said Olsommer. "It was an honor to meet him, and when I learned that he was still waiting to receive his Congressional Gold Medal, I was deeply concerned. I shared those concerns with our Congressman, Rob Bresnahan. He and his team responded immediately and worked diligently to ensure Mr. Drake received the recognition he so greatly deserves. I'm proud to have played a small part in that process. I'm thrilled for Mr. Drake and his family — and I'm incredibly proud to have him as a constituent of the 139th District." "It was a privilege to witness Sgt. Drake receive the Congressional Gold Medal today," said Watro. "He is an American patriot whose legacy will inspire generations to come and his service is an example of the extraordinary strength of our WWII heroes. I am pleased I was able to join him today for this incredible ceremony, and I thank Rep. Bresnahan for inviting me to witness this great honor." Drake was drafted on April 30, 1943, and sent to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, with the newly formed 69th Infantry Division. He later joined the Ranger Company A, 2nd Ranger Infantry Battalion, where he patrolled the area around the landing sites in search of enemy troops. He fought in some of the fiercest campaigns of the war, including the Battle of Brest, the Huertgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. He was honorably discharged in December 1945 after the deactivation of the 2nd Ranger Battalion. The Congressional Gold Medal is awarded to the World War II Army Rangers in recognition of their extraordinary bravery, sacrifice and critical contributions during the war. This medal serves as a lasting symbol of the nation's gratitude. It honors not only the courage of the Army Rangers during one of the most critical moments in modern history but also acknowledges the enduring legacy of an elite group that once numbered 7,000 and now includes just five living members. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Republican who pushed to ban lawmaker stock trading bought Lockheed shares ahead of Iran strikes
Numerous members of Congress had investments in key defense firms on the line before the war between Israel and Iran reignited, only to see momentum fizzle with Monday's announcement of a ceasefire. Among them is the primary sponsor of a ban on congressional stock trading, drawing into question how serious Congress really is about separating its members from the appearance of profiting off of the office. Stock trading among members of Congress has long been a controversial practice. As the Covid pandemic raged across the U.S. in 2020, lawmakers fell under renewed scrutiny for their trades after it was revealed that some members of Congress dumped millions of dollars' worth of stock ahead of the coinciding economic crash. The effort to ban or restrict the trading of individual stocks by members or their spouses was renewed in May when Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a Pennsylvania Republican, re-introduced the TRUST Act — a piece of legislation that would bar sales of stock for members or their spouses unless those assets were held in a qualified blind trust. Originally introduced in January, the legislation has dozens of bipartisan co-sponsors. At the time, the swing-district congressman proclaimed that 'the public should never have to question whether their elected officials are serving the public or their own portfolios,' a clear reference to the suspicion under which his colleagues have fallen for stock trading in office. Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries both publicly back a ban, but the TRUST Act has yet to get a vote. Bresnahan, meanwhile, continues to own a sizable stock portfolio, containing millions in assets and making more than 600 trades since coming to office this year. Less than halfway through his first full term, the congressman is now facing the same kind of suspicion from voters regarding his financial activity outside of Congress. Recent trades have included a purchase of Lockheed Martin stock reported on May 15, less than a month before Israel's war with Iran broke out and eventually drew the U.S. into launching strikes against three targets associated with Iran's nuclear program. Lockheed is a major defense partner of the Israeli government, and is under contract to provide the Israeli Air Force with 75 of its F-35 strike fighters. He took a question from a woman at a tele-town hall earlier this month on the issue, and his portfolio's prolific trading was highlighted by the Twitter account Unusual Whales in early June. The popular account monitors trading by members of Congress and often highlights instances where lawmakers' portfolios vastly outperform the market. The congressman said in response that his portfolio is managed by a financial adviser, explaining: 'I honestly have no idea what's inside of the portfolio that I own...I do not have any dialogues with my financial advisers,' according to local NPR affiliate WHYY. Bresnahan's re-election campaign was the recipient of a $1,000 donation from a PAC representing Lockheed Martin Corporation two weeks after reporting the trade. The donation was one of dozens the PAC made at the end of May to centrist members of both parties, an early investment in the 2026 cycle. In a statement in May, Bresnahan claimed that he was in the process of setting up a blind trust that would meet the act's requirements in conversations with the House Ethics Committee. His office told The Independent on Wednesday: 'Rep. Bresnahan does not trade his own stocks – a point he has made repeatedly. All stock trades are and have been made by a financial advisor without his involvement, and he does not know what is traded or when. He believes Members of Congress should not be allowed to profit off the information they are entrusted with, which is why he introduced legislation to ban Congressional stock trading, restoring the integrity Americans expect and deserve from their government.' Two Democrats co-sponsoring the TRUST Act both made similar trades. Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat (and another hawkish figure in foreign policy circles) purchased Raytheon stock in late April, while Jared Moskowitz of Florida purchased Qualcomm and Lockheed stock at the beginning of the same month. Moskowitz has never taken a donation from Lockheed Martin's PAC, and Gottheimer took a donation of the same amount ($1,000) earlier this year (though he never purchased the company's stock). Moskowitz's office said in a statement in May that his trades are "managed by an outside third-party financial advisor.' Gottheimer said in 2022 that he would put his investments in a blind trust, but blamed the House Ethics Committee for procedural delays in that process when questioned by the Washington Examiner earlier this year. 'Prior to taking office, Josh turned over management of his retirement savings and investments to a third party, who has full investment discretion,' his spokesman said. 'Throughout his time in Congress, decisions related to his managed investments have been made at the direction of that third party. Josh is also awaiting approval from Congress of a blind trust. In the meantime, he has taken the extra step of setting up an independent trust.' The Independent has reached out to Gottheimer and Moskowitz's offices for further comment. Several members of Congress bought defense stocks within the last two months, including such well-known figures as Marjorie Taylor Greene — who repeatedly condemned the prospect of war with Iran after purchasing Palantir stock twice in April, then Boeing and Qualcomm stock in May. Rep. Jefferson Shreve, another freshman, bought Lockheed stock in April. Florida's newly-appointed Senator Ashley Moody purchased Howmet Aerospace stock in early April. The Independent has reached out for comment. But none are co-sponsors of restrictions on stock trading under the current Congress. Greene, in particular, has already been publicly dinged by one of her own Republican colleagues, Mike Lawler, for a lucrative trade she made in May. 'After many successful years of running my own business, I ran for Congress to bring that mindset to Washington. Now that I'm proudly serving the people of Northwest Georgia, I have signed a fiduciary agreement to allow my financial advisor to control my investments,' Greene told The Independent in a statement. 'All of my investments are reported with full transparency. I refuse to hide my stock trades in a blind trust like many others do. Since my portfolio manager makes my trades for me, I usually find out about them when the media asks.' If any members of Congress were looking to defense stocks for a quick profit after Israel began its assault on Iran earlier this month, they may already have been disappointed. A ceasefire hammered into place by Trump on Monday evening appeared shaky at first, but nevertheless appears to be holding — sending stocks including Lockheed tumbling. As the president delivered a public tongue-lashing aimed at both sides of the conflict on Tuesday, the message from Washington was clear: the outbreak of further violence would be unacceptable. Two Democratic senators, Mark Kelly and Jon Ossoff, introduced another version of a stock trading ban in the Senate near the end of May. John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, has expressed skepticism about the need for stronger protections.
