Feb 17 Watch Medicaid Recipients Nervous as States Start Chopping to Fill Budget Holes Governors across the U.S. are desperately looking for ways to fill huge budget gaps. Most are required by law to balance their budgets, which means big cuts in state spending on all programs, including Medicaid. That has many recipients worried. Continue watching
Feb 17 Watch Senate Pair Risks Backlash Seeking Bipartisan Fix for Deficit, Debt Crisis As debate continues over President Obama's budget proposal, Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Mark Warner discuss their bipartisan approach to addressing the debt crisis -- and the pitfalls they face in doing so. Continue watching
Feb 17 States Facing Huge Increases in Medicaid Bills in 2012 Federal stimulus funds that support Medicaid will dry up in June, leaving state governments to support much more of the program. The PBS NewsHour has obtained budgetary data revealing how much Medicaid costs will increase for each state in fiscal… Continue reading
Feb 17 Democratic Lawmakers Stall Vote in Wisconsin, Protesters Gather at Capitol Protesters fill the Wisconsin State Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday, demonstrating against Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to eliminate collective bargaining rights for many state workers. Mark Hirsch/Getty Images (View a slide show of the protests.) Updated 3:17 p.m. ET… Continue reading
Feb 16 Watch Defense Spending Battles Brewing as House Axes Backup F-35 Engine Funds The Obama administration defended its military budget before Congress, sparking new political conflict between Democrats and Republicans. Jim Lehrer talks with Political Editor David Chalian about the looming battles between the parties. Continue watching
Feb 16 Watch Sen. Bernie Sanders: ‘I’ve Got a Lot of Problems With the President’s Budget’ Judy Woodruff talks to Sen. Bernie Sanders, the longtime Vermont independent who caucuses with the Democrats and serves on the Senate Budget Committee, about the debate on spending and cuts in the president's budget blueprint for 2012. Continue watching
Feb 16 Military Budget Criticized for Spending Too Much, Not Spending Enough As Defense Secretary Robert Gates appeared on Capitol Hill Wednesday to begin pushing for the Obama administration's defense budget, the Pentagon's spending plans were already taking flak from the political left and right. One side says proposed cuts are not… Continue reading
Feb 15 Watch Rand Paul: ‘Our Whole Economy Is Equal to Our Debt Now’ Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a co-founder of the Senate Tea Party Caucus, speaks with Gwen Ifill about President Obama's 2012 budget proposal, plus his vision for further spending cuts and bringing down the U.S. national debt. Continue watching
Feb 15 Watch Obama Touts Budget Plan as Republicans Seek Deeper Spending Cuts President Obama continued promoting his budget blueprint for 2012 on Tuesday and called on both parties to prepare for tough decisions about Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Judy Woodruff talks with Political Editor David Chalian about the budget battles between… Continue watching
Feb 14 Watch Cuts, Deficit Highlight 2012 Budget Blueprint, But Battles Loom in Washington President Obama submitted his $3.7 trillion federal budget blueprint for 2012. Gwen Ifill speaks with White House Budget Director Jack Lew about the details of the budget and Judy Woodruff has the Republican reaction from Sen. Rob Portman, a member… Continue watching