House Cuts $40B In Welfare, Child Support, Student Lending, Medicaid...

Washington Post Jonathan Weisman February 2, 2006 at 01:51 PM

The House yesterday narrowly approved a contentious budget-cutting package that would save nearly $40 billion over five years by imposing substantial changes on programs including Medicaid, welfare, child support and student lending.

With its presidential signature all but assured, the bill represents the first effort in nearly a decade to try to slow the growth of entitlement programs, one that will be felt by millions of Americans. Women on welfare are likely to face longer hours of work, education or community service to qualify for their checks. Recipients of Medicaid can expect to face higher co-payments and deductibles, especially on expensive prescription drugs and emergency room visits for non-emergency care. More affluent seniors will find it far more difficult to qualify for Medicaid-covered nursing care.

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White House To Request $70B More To Spend In Iraq And Afghanistan

Associated Press ANDREW TAYLOR February 2, 2006 at 01:39 PM
READ MORE: Iraq, Hurricane, Afghanistan

The White House has told Congress to expect requests for about $70 billion more for the wars inIraq and Afghanistan in the ongoing budget year and $18 billion more for hurricane relief, Senate Republican aides say.

The details of the requests are not finalized but President Bush's budget for 2007, to be submitted next week, will reflect the totals for planning purposes, said the aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the White House has not yet announced the requests. Another $2.3 billion to combat avian flu is also expected.

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