Senate Republicans are making preparations to deal with the potential loss of $560 million in federal Medicaid money next year with -- you guessed it -- further deep cuts.
Back from a two-week summer break, Senate Republicans will be taking steps over the next several days to identify areas in next year’s budget to deal with that loss of money. According to the Associated Press, programs facing cuts may include universities, health care and revenue sharing for local governments.
The cuts would be on top of $1.3 billion in cuts and savings that the Senate already has passed to erase a shortfall for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. That budget is now before the Democratic-controlled House, where some of the Senate measures face opposition.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop has insisted the tax increases not be included in next year’s budget.
To add to the drama, lawmakers still have not resolved a $300 million shortfall in the current budget year emerged nearly two months ago.
