Still won’t make up enough ground to stop $2.8 trillion minimally in extra deficit spending over the next decade.
No room at the inn.
Millions of mothers and children are enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Medicaid enrollment for mothers
Nearly 1 in 5 adult women are enrolled in Medicaid, which is a key source of coverage for women and families.
Medicaid is the largest payer of maternity care in the U.S., covering more than 40% of U.S. births.
The American Rescue Plan extended postpartum Medicaid coverage for one year, and Congress made this option permanent at the end of 2022.
CHIP enrollment for children
About half of all children in the U.S. are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.
CHIP ensures children whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but are also priced out of affordable private insurance can still access health care.
Medicaid and CHIP enrollment
In October 2024, 72,058,701 people were enrolled in Medicaid, and 7,249,301 people were enrolled in CHIP.
Medicaid and CHIP enrollment increased by approximately 21 million individuals from February 2020 to November 2022.
Medicaid and CHIP are jointly financed by the federal and state governments.
Some label Medicaid as another of those “unfunded mandates” from Congress. They are very well known for funding a needed service for a while to get it going. Then the feds trim funding causing states to take the heat for cutting services or come up with the funds to pay for it.
We should not be surprised that states are reluctant to offer Medicaid supplements regardless of the promises made by Congress.
Unfunded mandates should be outlawed. Congress should fund at a promised level for a minimum of 10 years. Take it or leave it.
Let’s see how that works when the federal govt requires state and local police departments (and govts) to bear the uncompensated costs of enforcing federal law.
Interesting question. Those who violate federal law end up in federal courts and federal prisons. If you rob a bank FBI comes after you. Weapons violations are ATF.
Sanctuary cities imply selective enforcement. Drugs might be violations under both state and federal law.
So I wonder how much of local law enforcement effort is for federal laws.
Not really. If the federal govt chooses to NOT pay for the non-federal costs incurred handling federal law at the state/local level , then the state/local govt is not required to enforce federal law. Fifth Amendment.
Turn the argument around. Have exclusively federal law enforcement personnel but require them to ALSO enforce all state and local laws in addition to the federal laws–all at the expense of the federal govt. Guess how THAT turns out.
I still don’ t see this as a problem. A local officer arrests a suspect carrying a gun in violation of federal law. Local prosecutor decides whether to prosecute under state law or refer to feds for prosecution. No effect on local enforcement cost.
That is where you are wrong. Once it is a federal matter, the federal govt assumes (= is to pay) all costs. Prisoner is charged in federal court–not local/state court. Lockup is at federal expense (maybe in local jail but feds pay for it all). And so on. For a few minor criminals a month, no big deal. Or they land a big criminal who needs extended police involvement (think Chauvin).