Advertisement

Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Thursday, July 17, 2025

Louisiana voted for Trump. But it also relies heavily on Medicaid benefits, which are set to face steep cuts under the president's new One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

More

Alternate links: Google News | Twitter

Louisiana is among the states that will have to make sure its Medicaid recipients are working, but that might prove difficult within the allotted time. @chatlanis.bsky.social reports for @stateline.org lailluminator.com/2025/07/16/m ...

[image or embed]

-- Louisiana Illuminator (@lailluminator.com) Jul 16, 2025 at 10:13 AM

Comments

Admin's note: Participants in this discussion must follow the site's moderation policy. Profanity will be filtered. Abusive conduct is not allowed.

More from the article ...

... Few states stand to lose as much from the megabill that President Donald Trump signed into law as Louisiana.

With more poverty and disease than most of the country, Louisiana relies heavily on Medicaid benefits going to people who lack the means to cover a doctor's visit on their own.

That fragile lifeline is now in jeopardy.

The "Big Beautiful Bill" that Trump muscled through Congress chops Medicaid spending by nearly $1 trillion over the next decade.

Out of sheer self-interest, Louisiana might seem a state that would fight to preserve Medicaid. About 35% of Louisianans under the age of 65 were covered by Medicaid in 2023, the most recent year data was available. That figure is the second highest among the 50 states, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy organization.

The state voted heavily for Trump in the 2024 election and, polling shows, appreciates the job he's doing as president.

Louisiana loves Trump but needs Medicaid. How does a deep-red state reconcile the two?

Interviews with a dozen Louisianans, most of whom supported Trump, suggest that many in the state have absorbed the arguments that Trump and his congressional allies used to sell the bill.

A few warning signs for Trump emerged. Some of his voters aren't thrilled with what they describe as his bombast or are skeptical the measure will live up to its grandiose title. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-07-15 10:20 PM | Reply

@#1 ... many in the state have absorbed the arguments that Trump and his congressional allies used to sell the bill. ..

Perhaps like this?

'Working family tax cuts': Republicans look for new ways to sell the 'big, beautiful bill'
www.nbcnews.com

... For months, President Donald Trump's main message about the sweeping bill he pushed through Congress was that it was "big" and "beautiful."

Now that it's also law, the White House and its outside allies are pivoting to a more concrete, detailed description in the hopes that voters will have a clearer idea of what it means for their day-to-day lives. ...

Two Republican strategists said they are advising lawmakers to sell the act to a wider audience using different titles: the "Working Family Tax Cuts" act or possibly the "Trump Working Family Tax Cuts."

The names allude to new policies such as no taxes on tips or overtime that could save money for Black, Latino and other voters who were important parts of Trump's 2024 electoral coalition, the strategists said.

At the same time, the strategists are advising lawmakers to tout the additional money that will be going to their states for border enforcement and other priorities.

"Working families" is a phrase that polls well and gives Republicans an opening to persuade voters they'll save money under the new law, said one of the strategists, who is working on Senate races. ...


#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-07-15 10:23 PM | Reply

Few states stand to lose as much from the megabill that President Donald Trump signed into law as Louisiana.
With more poverty and disease than most of the country, Louisiana relies heavily on Medicaid benefits going to people who lack the means to cover a doctor's visit on their own.

Just tell them that he didn't cut medicaid. That seems to work on them.

Then hand them their one big beautiful hospital bill and push them out the door.

They got what they wanted.

More money for billionaires and more pain and suffering for themselves.

Only an idiot would believe electing a sociopathic billionaire would help their lives.

#3 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-07-16 07:19 AM | Reply

I don't suppose people on medicaid can be counted on to think ahead very much.

You'll have to actually cut their medicaid and when they ask why....tell them "Trump!"

#4 | Posted by eberly at 2025-07-16 09:11 AM | Reply

and it better be a republican answering those questions. They won't listen to anybody else.

#5 | Posted by eberly at 2025-07-16 09:11 AM | Reply

and it better be a republican answering those questions. They won't listen to anybody else.

Or they could just blame the evil libs from blue states and take zero responsibility for what they did to their own constituents.

Yeah, probably that.

#6 | Posted by horstngraben at 2025-07-17 01:58 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"Louisiana is among the states that will have to make sure its Medicaid recipients are working, but that might prove difficult within the allotted time"

Isn't there a clause that says they can volunteer 20 hours a week to qualify?

I don't see the issue with requiring able-bodied people to get a job if they want to partake in the benefits. And we all know who this is aimed at. The millennials who refuse to work and they're too old for their parents to carry them on their employer's insurance anymore.

#7 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-07-17 04:04 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

"And we all know who this is aimed at. The millennials"

LOL.
This is aimed at poor people of all stripes.

And watching Republicans blame Millennials for not thriving in the economy Boomers created?
Well that's a fine example of what's wrong with Republicans.

#8 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 04:09 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"Isn't there a clause that says they can volunteer 20 hours a week to qualify?"

So at least three working days a week (or a pair of overtime days), including transportation back and forth?!?

Also: How will that be proven, and will the required proof ever delay or deter a qualifying applicant? And who will police it; how will easy abuse be avoided?

"we all know who this is aimed at."

At folks who don't need another barrier to get help. Nor do they need the added expenses of a non-paying part-time job.

#9 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-17 04:18 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Keep in mind, folks: the default will be to throw EVERYONE off, unless they provide the proper paperwork.

And backups for processing paperwork? That's legally YOUR fault.

The folks who wrote this ABSOLUTELY KNOW the paperwork will keep otherwise-eligible recipients from getting honest benefits.

It's cruelty. And all for power and greed, aka tax cuts for the world's wealthiest.

#10 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-17 04:23 PM | Reply

Unless you show up
twice a year
in person
to provide the proper paperwork
While you're supposed to be out working or looking for a job.

#11 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 04:25 PM | Reply

-Also: How will that be proven,

If the state is comfortable with this they could use a form that the recipient of the volunteer's time would sign detailing the work performed and how many hours.

This is what Catholic schools do to verify service hours each student is required to perform each year.

Does that seem easy to falsify?

#12 | Posted by eberly at 2025-07-17 04:31 PM | Reply

"Does that seem easy to falsify?"

To the party that says illegals are voting, to the party that says illegals are eating cats and dogs, yes that seems very easy to falsify.

#13 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 04:34 PM | Reply

Dr. John, call your office.
Dr. John, call your office.

Time for the Gris Gris man, to cure all your ills. No one else will do it down the bayou way ...

#14 | Posted by catdog at 2025-07-17 04:37 PM | Reply

"Does that seem easy to falsify?"

Micro-paperwork requirements on actual paper which must be physically processed, versus electronically processed?!?

It's an additional barrier.

Do you believe, in the big picture, an additional barrier will be an additional barrier?

#15 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-17 04:52 PM | Reply

-Do you believe, in the big picture, an additional barrier will be an additional barrier?

I don't think it's fair for me to determine what's a reasonable request for medicaid recipients to fufill in order to receive health benefits.

I work a full time job and pay a portion of the premiums to qualify for my health benefits.

What should a medicaid recipient be required to do?

I don't know really.....you gotta draw the line somewhere but I don't know where.

#16 | Posted by eberly at 2025-07-17 05:01 PM | Reply

"I don't think it's fair for me to determine what's a reasonable request for medicaid recipients to fufill in order to receive health benefits."

Well you're wrong.
You're a big boy now.
You can tell "fair" from "unfair."
And you can tell "reasonable" from "unreasonable" too.

You just don't want to.

#17 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:10 PM | Reply

"What should a medicaid recipient be required to do?"

What shouldn't a medicaid recipient be required to do?
What's "medicaid?"
What's a "recipient?"
What do you mean by "required?"
--Eberly

#18 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:12 PM | Reply

So they're cutting $35 billion over a decade, AND requiring the states pay for a system of tracking and enforcement?

A million bucks a day. In Louisiana.

It will be devastating.

#19 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-07-17 05:12 PM | Reply

This is aimed at poor people of all stripes.

And watching Republicans blame Millennials for not thriving in the economy Boomers created?
Well that's a fine example of what's wrong with Republicans.

#8 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 04:09 PM | Reply | Flag:

Poor people as in people who don't want to work... FIFY

#20 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-07-17 05:14 PM | Reply

"I work a full time job and pay a portion of the premiums to qualify for my health benefits."

So if you had to show up at the Medicaid office twice a year, would that be a burden, over not having to do that now?

Because you're saying it's not a burden for the people who are gonna have to start doing that, over not having to do that now.

Oh... right... you're saying it's above your pay grade to know if having to show up at some place twice a year creates a new burden to have to show up at some place twice a year.

#21 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:14 PM | Reply

"So they're cutting $35 billion over a decade, AND requiring the states pay for a system of tracking and enforcement?"

Spoiler Alert:
The lion's share of the money will be spent on tracking and enforcement. None left for recipients.

#22 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:15 PM | Reply

Unless you show up
twice a year
in person
to provide the proper paperwork
While you're supposed to be out working or looking for a job.

#11 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 04:25 PM | Reply | Flag

Only mooches like you have an issue with it.

#23 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-07-17 05:15 PM | Reply

"Only mooches like you have an issue with it."

You don't know anything about what it means to really work.
My paycheck, by virtue of getting one, is bigger than yours.
And my dividend check is smaller. Because I wasn't born with a rich mommy and daddy to hand me a future, that I squandered.

#24 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:17 PM | Reply

-So if you had to show up at the Medicaid office twice a year, would that be a burden, over not having to do that now?

currently, I show up at my actual office around 200 times a year.

It's likely I could add 2 visits somewhere in addition.

#25 | Posted by eberly at 2025-07-17 05:17 PM | Reply

The lion's share of the money will be spent on tracking and enforcement. None left for recipients.

#22 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:15 PM | Reply | Flag

Source?

Show your math.

#26 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-07-17 05:18 PM | Reply

It's also going to cause problems for people who are working for cash money and not reporting to the IRS.

#27 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-07-17 05:20 PM | Reply

currently, I show up at my actual office around 200 times a year.
It's likely I could add 2 visits somewhere in addition.
#25 | Posted by eberly

But you have to do it without a car, because you're on Medicaid and you don't get a car on Medicaid.
How long is that gonna take you?

#28 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:20 PM | Reply

"It's an additional barrier."

I guess anything is an additional barrier if it takes time.

going to the actual doctor to receive medical services
going to the grocery store
getting gas
buying clothes
tattoo parlor
hair salon
liquor store
pawn shop
movie theatre
etc.....

#29 | Posted by eberly at 2025-07-17 05:22 PM | Reply

The lion's share of the money will be spent on tracking and enforcement. None left for recipients.
#22 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:15 PM | Reply | Flag
Source?
Show your math.
#26 | Posted by lfthndthrds

^
You show your math, not that you're enough of a thinker to even hazard a guess.

How much do you think Louisiana will have to spend to track 1.5M Medicaid recipients?
That's 3M appointments per year to review eligibility, if they all show up.
Let's say each appointment is 30 minutes.
That's 1.5M man-hours of work per year.
So right there is tens of millions of dollars in additional expense, just in the labor cost of doing these pointless interviews.

#30 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:24 PM | Reply

"I guess anything is an additional barrier if it takes time."

Oh, so you can answer, when spoon-fed the correct answer!
Look at you, big boy!

#31 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:25 PM | Reply

"you don't get a car on Medicaid."

maybe they should. wait...nevermind.....can't guarantee they can get a drivers license....

#32 | Posted by eberly at 2025-07-17 05:27 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

I think Danforth makes a reasonable point about the additional costs that render no real benefit and recipients are being asked to do more.

Admittingly, I don't know where to draw the line.

Snoofy wants everything to be delivered to their door(which is also being given to them for free).

Presumably the health care itself.......at their door. Anything else is an "additional barrier".

That's where he draws the line.....gee, I wonder why States don't listen to that advice?

#33 | Posted by eberly at 2025-07-17 05:30 PM | Reply

"you're saying it's above your pay grade to know..."

actually, it's massively below my pay grade to know such things.

I'll let experts on receiving social services be exactly your pay grade, little fella.

You're experienced in it.........

#34 | Posted by eberly at 2025-07-17 05:35 PM | Reply

"I think Danforth makes a reasonable point about the additional costs that render no real benefit and recipients are being asked to do more."

We agree. Kumbaya.

"Snoofy wants everything to be delivered to their door(which is also being given to them for free)."

Actually I'm the conservative here. Hard, hold the line, conservative:
I literally don't think anything needs changing when it comes to Medicaid.
Now of course there are tweaks and adjustments. But this is a major evolution of the program.

Now, how did I get to be such a conservative. Probably from working in a lot of complex environments. Situations where the cost of making a change includes hidden costs that come to the fore that weren't foreseen when making that change.

For example, as I described above, The State of Louisiana now needs to find payroll for 1,500,000 labor hours that they didn't have to supply before, in order to check all these documents.

Who is Louisiana going to tax, to pay for that?

If you know who pays for tariffs, you just might get the right answer!

I have to wager this program, even with the disenrollment of lost of otherwise eligible people, will not be revenue positive.

And if it is revenue positive, it is not considering the externalized costs.

The reason to be a conservative in all matters health care is found in the answer to a very simple inquiry about cost:
"Does it cost society more when everyone has health insurance? Or does it cost society more when some people, particularly the poor, don't?"

I mean, even this value judgment about people being lazy and needing to be punished by having their health care taken away
Setting aside how barbaric that is
The real fix here is for everybody to have health care all the time regardless of the circumstances, because you need health care when you're not working in life too.

And dhat absolutely terrifies Republicans, so they completely ignore the fact that their fear is why health care is so expensive here.

They want health care to be expensive here, to punish the poor for existing.

Republicans are cutting government to starve out the poor, the same way we slaughtered the buffalo to starve out the Indians in the 1900s.

Engineering a massive die-off of Indians... I mean the poor... will Make America Great Again.

#35 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:47 PM | Reply

"I'll let experts on receiving social services be exactly your pay grade, little fella."

You'd be surprised, perhaps, that unemployment benefits in California are ---- compared to every other state I've gotten unemployment in.

In IT, layoffs are common. I have been on unemployment a lot. For those unfamiliar with the idea, you can't get unemployment if you get fired for cause, like coming in drunk, or spending all day on the Internet. You get unemployment when the company you work for goes out of business, or there's a round of layoffs, or the company "takes a different direction" and your department gets pruned from the corporate tree. Or your President lets a deadly virus rampage the country with no testing and not even enough masks and it's unsafe to even go to work. Then, you get an extra six hundred bucks a week.

There is a nugget of truth in this. Honestly an extra six hundred bucks a week was too much for people on the bottom end of California's unemployment, which was $135 a week. Now they're getting $735 a week. Giving poor people a bunch of free money doesn't result in good financial outcomes for poor people. What they need is the things the state could provide if you gave the state $600 for every person on unemployment. At scale, that money could make a difference. Left in the hands of poor people it isn't going to self-organize into something greater than the whole of its parts.

So I don't really like handouts, but in the absence of a proper welfare state, it's better than nothing.

#36 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:55 PM | Reply

I got fifteen grand, because Trump's failure as our nation's leader led to about a half million extra people dying.

I don't really like it, but it's better than nothing.

I doubt the unemployed will be getting fifteen grand, from Trump's next economic disaster.

#37 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 05:59 PM | Reply

"You'd be surprised, perhaps, that unemployment benefits in California are ---- compared to every other state I've gotten unemployment in."

How many states have you received unemployment benefits from?

I'm starting to imagine you as Joe Dirt, Snoofy.

#38 | Posted by eberly at 2025-07-17 06:02 PM | Reply

that unemployment benefits in California are ---- compared to every other state I've gotten unemployment in.

Employers in CA pay 1.5% to 6.2% of wages in unemployment taxes to FTB.

Where else were you unemployed? Just to compare?

#39 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-07-17 06:07 PM | Reply

I'm starting to imagine you as Joe Dirt, Snoofy.
#38 | Posted by eberly

Wow, that's quite the compliment!

(Also, I have not seen Joe Dirt, but I know people love to meme on it.)

#40 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-07-17 06:10 PM | Reply

"Joe Dirt"

Where even losers get lucky sometimes.

Just like Trumpy.

#41 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-07-17 06:27 PM | Reply

The following HTML tags are allowed in comments: a href, b, i, p, br, ul, ol, li and blockquote. Others will be stripped out. Participants in this discussion must follow the site's moderation policy. Profanity will be filtered. Abusive conduct is not allowed.

Anyone can join this site and make comments. To post this comment, you must sign it with your Drudge Retort username. If you can't remember your username or password, use the lost password form to request it.
Username:
Password:

Home | Breaking News | Comments | User Blogs | Stats | Back Page | RSS Feed | RSS Spec | DMCA Compliance | Privacy

Drudge Retort