PDF metadata revealed a letter circulated within the Home was written by Paragon Well being Institute President Brian Blase.
A letter {that a} group of 20 far-right Home Republicans launched earlier this week as a part of a marketing campaign in assist of slashing Medicaid seems to have been authored by the top of a analysis institute with ties to the Koch community.
Politico reported Friday that “digital metadata embedded in a PDF copy” of the letter that was circulated contained in the Home of Representatives “lists the creator as Brian Blase, president of Paragon Well being Institute.”
InfluenceWatch notes that in 2021, Paragon obtained a virtually $2 million donation from Stand Together, “a right-libertarian funding group that acts because the umbrella group for the political community that’s largely funded by right-leaning businessman and political donor Charles Koch.”
Paragon not too long ago urged federal policymakers to require states to conduct extra frequent eligibility checks for Medicaid recipients in a purported effort to root out improper funds. Well being coverage advocates say such a change would make it harder for eligible enrollees to maintain their Medicaid protection.
The letter signed by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and different Home Republicans aligns with Paragon’s goals, claiming that “political abuse” of Medicaid “helps to bankrupt the federal authorities” and calling for “structural Medicaid reform” within the celebration’s forthcoming reconciliation bundle.
Tony Carrk, government director of the watchdog group Accountable.US, stated in a statement that “you’d be arduous pressed to discover a extra shameless instance of congressional Republicans taking their cues from particular pursuits at the price of the American individuals than Chip Roy copying and pasting a letter instantly from… particular pursuits.”
“This remarkably blatant kowtowing to conservative billionaires is a tragic reflection of the congressional Republicans’ willingness to make devastating cuts to Individuals’ healthcare to pay for decrease taxes for the richest,” stated Carrk.
The letter was launched as congressional Republicans grappled internally with how and the way a lot to chop Medicaid as they search to offset the massive projected costs of one other spherical of tax breaks for the wealthy.
Earlier this week, as Widespread Goals reported, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) stated he wouldn’t settle for greater than $500 billion in cuts to Medicaid over the subsequent decade. Cuts of that magnitude would nonetheless be the biggest in this system’s historical past and would strip well being protection from tens of millions of people.
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