Medicaid Cuts, Billionaire Breaks, and Florida's Governor on a Power Trip

Medicaid Cuts in Disguise:

Why H.R. 1’s “Reasonable” Reforms Are Anything But

When you first read the Medicaid provisions in the House GOP’s H.R. 1 — the “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed on July 4, 2025 — they might not set off alarm bells. There’s no sweeping repeal of Medicaid, no dramatic headline like “10 million people to lose coverage overnight.” In fact, some of the provisions might even sound kind of… reasonable.

That’s the trick.

This bill is engineered to sound benign while quietly laying the groundwork for massive coverage losses, deeper health inequities, and a cost shift onto states, families, and yes — even people with private insurance.

And if you’re someone who doesn’t rely on Medicaid, this still affects you.
Because when your uninsured neighbor loses access to care, someone has to pick up the slack — and it might be your doctor, your hospital, your premiums, or your tax bill.

What’s in the Bill? (And Why It Doesn’t Sound That Bad)

1. Work Requirements
Adults ages 19–64 without dependents or disabilities must work, volunteer, or train for at least 80 hours/month to maintain coverage.

"Shouldn't people contribute if/what they can?"

2. Cost-Sharing Increases
States can charge up to $35 per service for people earning just over the poverty line.

"That's less than my co-pay."

3. Twice-Yearly Eligibility Checks
States must re-verify eligibility every 6 months.

"It helps prevent fraud, right?"

4. Provider Tax Limits
Caps on how much states can tax hospitals to fund Medicaid (from 6% to 3.5%).

"Sounds like a check on excessive spending."

5. Ban on Gender-Affirming Care
Ends all Medicaid and CHIP funding for gender-affirming care, regardless of age.

"Not everyone supports that care anyway."

6. Defunding of Abortion-Linked Providers
Prohibits Medicaid reimbursement to any provider that offers or refers for abortion — even for unrelated care.

"Isn't that already barred by federal law?"

Why It’s Meant to Sound Reasonable

These provisions don’t scream "unreasonable burden". They sound like policy tweaks — small adjustments in the name of fairness, efficiency, or accountability. And they’re timed perfectly: the worst cuts don’t take effect until after the 2026 midterms, so voters won’t feel the pain until it’s politically safe for those who passed it.

But this isn’t about fixing Medicaid.

It’s about shrinking it — quietly and methodically.

The Real-World Harm (With Evidence-Based Backup)

Work Requirements = Paperwork Traps That Don't Work

Most Medicaid recipients already work or care for loved ones. These requirements don’t boost employment — they create bureaucratic hurdles that push eligible people off the rolls.
In Arkansas, a 2018 pilot program led to 18,000 people losing coverage, mostly due to confusion and red tape — not unwillingness to work.
Multiple studies show no lasting employment gains, just increased administrative costs and more uninsured people.

Copy = Delayed Care and Higher Costs Later

For families just above the poverty line, $35 isn’t a minor fee — it’s a tank of gas or a bag of groceries.
Even $5–10 copays have been shown to reduce doctor visits and medication adherence.
When people skip care due to cost, they often end up sicker — and emergency care is far more expensive for both patients and the system.

Frequent Verification = Mass Disenrollment of Eligible People

Families will now have to provide proof of income, residency, assets, and ID every 6 months — or risk being kicked off.
This disproportionately affects:

People with unstable housing
People with disabilities
People with limited digital access

States that have tried more frequent re-verification have seen significant drops in enrollment — even among people who still qualify.

Provider Tax Caps = Quiet State Defunding

These caps reduce states’ ability to draw down federal Medicaid matching funds — a key funding mechanism in many state budgets.
Result: States are left with fewer tools to sustain their Medicaid programs, which could lead to cuts in services, reimbursements, or eligibility.

Targeting Trans Care = Political Theater, Medical Harm

This ban removes medically necessary, evidence-based care from trans people — not to save money, but to advance an ideological agenda.

Major medical associations (AMA, AAP, APA) support access to gender-affirming care as medically appropriate and often life-saving.
The bill would force doctors to either violate their oath or turn patients away.

Attacks on Planned Parenthood = Fewer Services for Everyone

Most care delivered by Planned Parenthood and similar providers has nothing to do with abortion.
Defunding them means less access to cancer screenings, STI treatment, birth control, and prenatal care — especially in medically underserved areas.
In some rural and low-income regions, they are the only available provider for certain services.

What Are These Cuts Paying For?

If you’re wondering why Congress is slashing Medicaid, student loan relief, and food aid… it’s not to reduce the deficit. It’s to pay for $4.6 trillion in extended tax cuts, most of which benefit the wealthy and corporations.

The bill also preserves the SALT cap — a tax policy that limits deductions for state and local taxes, mostly affecting high earners.
In short: the savings come from struggling families, and the rewards go to the already well-off.

But What About the Rural Hospital Fund?

Yes, the bill includes a $50 billion Rural Provider Access and Sustainability Fund — a grant pool meant to soften the blow for struggling rural hospitals.
But it’s not a new investment — it’s a fig leaf.

The same hospitals this fund claims to help will still face lower Medicaid reimbursements, provider tax caps, and a surge in uninsured patients due to coverage losses.

If anything, this fund tacitly acknowledges that these cuts are so harmful they require a bailout to prevent hospital closures.
And even then, eligibility requirements and limited access mean many communities may never see the benefit.

Why You Should Care (Even If You’re Not on Medicaid)

Let’s talk ripple effects.
When over a million Floridians lose coverage, that doesn’t just affect “them.” It affects:

Your neighborhood clinic that can’t afford to stay open
Your ER that gets flooded by people with no other option
Your doctor, who’s forced to choose between treating uninsured patients for free or turning them away
You, if you get caught in a coverage gap after a job loss or health crisis

The idea that Medicaid is full of fraud and freeloaders is a myth.
Getting — and keeping — Medicaid in Florida is a bureaucratic marathon:
ID, birth certificate, pay stubs, bank records, tax returns, immigration status.

Renewal every 12 months is already hard.
Renewal every 6 months will push many off a cliff.

Medicaid Is a Lifeline, Not a Loophole

We all know someone who’s needed it:

The young family raising a child with autism
The retired aunt who relies on Medicaid to help cover her Medicare premiums
The neighbor recovering from a car accident who can’t work and needs rehab

Maybe someone in your own household.

A single catastrophic health event — cancer, an injury, a complicated pregnancy — can destroy financial stability.
Medicaid can be the difference between staying afloat and going bankrupt.

So if you have good insurance, be grateful.
But also ask yourself:

Could I afford a $200 doctor visit out of pocket?
What if my child needed a $1,000/month medication?
What would I do if I lost coverage tomorrow?

This Was Timed for After the Election. That Tells You Everything.

The sickest (pun intended) parts of H.R. 1 don’t kick in until after the 2026 midterms.
That’s not a coincidence — it’s a strategy.

Lawmakers are banking on you forgetting, or assuming it won’t affect you.
But now that you know, you can speak up.

Because Medicaid isn’t a fringe program.
It’s a foundation of our public health system — and when you chip away at the foundation, the whole structure starts to fall.

Tax Cuts, Billionaires, and Budget Tricks:

What H.R. 1 (2025) Really Does with Your Money

You’ve probably heard H.R. 1 described as a “spending bill.” But it doesn’t just decide what to cut — it also decides who still gets a blank check. While vital programs are slashed, tax breaks for the ultra-rich are locked in for good. When you dig into the fine print, it’s also a tax bill, and one with massive consequences for working families, small businesses, and future generations — especially here in Florida.

H.R. 1 doesn’t just cut programs. It doubles down on an unfair tax system and rewrites the rules — again — to favor the wealthiest 0.1% (not even the 1%) at the expense of nearly everyone else.

Here are four major tax-related provisions in H.R. 1 that deserve a closer look — and what they reveal about the bill’s true priorities:

1. Extending the Trump Tax Cuts — for the Ultra-Rich

In 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) — a sweeping tax law that delivered modest, temporary relief for families, but permanent, enormous windfalls for corporations and the ultra-wealthy.

Now, H.R. 1 proposes to make those benefits permanent — but only for the rich.

Lower tax rates for millionaires? ✅ Permanent.
Expanded Child Tax Credit that helped parents afford groceries? ❌ Expiring.
Tax breaks for billionaire heirs via the estate tax? ✅ Permanent.
Relief for working-class renters and homeowners? ❌ Nothing.

If you didn’t feel the benefit of the 2017 tax cuts, you’re not imagining it. They weren’t made for you — or even for most people in the so-called 1%. The real winners were in the 0.1% club, where seven-figure incomes and stock portfolios live.

2. Slashing IRS Enforcement — Again

One of the most quietly dangerous parts of H.R. 1 is its proposal to strip the IRS of critical funding.

In 2022, Congress invested in the IRS so it could:

Modernize outdated systems
Improve customer service for everyday filers
Audit the wealthiest Americans and large corporations

This investment was expected to bring in $200+ billion in recovered revenue — by simply making sure the wealthiest pay what they owe.

But H.R. 1 wants to gut that funding, making it easier for high-dollar tax cheats to dodge accountability, while honest taxpayers foot the bill.

3. Rolling Back Clean Energy Tax Credits

H.R. 1 also undoes many of the climate-forward investments passed in the Inflation Reduction Act:

Electric vehicle (EV) tax credits? Gone.
Solar panel rebates? Gone.
Incentives for U.S.-based manufacturing? Gone.

That means fewer jobs in the clean energy sector, higher costs for families trying to “go green,” and fewer tools to fight climate change.

4. A Hidden Tax Hike for Working Families

When the 2017 tax cuts were passed, many of the family-friendly provisions were designed to expire in 2025, including:

The expanded Child Tax Credit
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) improvements (see below)
Standard deduction increases
Small business “pass-through” deductions

H.R. 1 doesn’t extend or improve these benefits. It lets them die on schedule — while locking in breaks for the ultra-rich.

⚠️ That’s how working families end up with a tax hike “by default.” Not because Congress raised taxes — but because they chose not to protect the parts that help regular people.

Sidebar: “What the 2017 Tax Law Did to Your Taxes”

Lowered income tax rates in every bracket — but only temporarily
Doubled the standard deduction — while eliminating personal exemptions (hurting larger families)
Capped state & local tax (SALT) deductions at $10,000 — hitting many homeowners
Slashed corporate taxes permanently — from 35% to 21%
Created a 20% “pass-through” business deduction — mainly benefiting lawyers, consultants, and investors

Wait, Didn’t We All Get Tax Breaks in 2017?

Some folks did — but most working- and middle-class families saw small, temporary savings. Wealthy Americans saw large, permanent benefits.

The bait-and-switch was baked in:

Corporate tax cuts? Permanent
Family tax credits? Set to expire in 2025
Budget rules meant the bill couldn’t grow the deficit after 10 years, so Congress chose to protect the rich — and give families a ticking clock.

Sidebar: Why the Tax Cuts Are Expiring — Intentionally

Congress used a fast-track process called budget reconciliation, which lets bills pass with a simple majority in the Senate. But there’s a catch: they can’t increase the deficit outside a 10-year window.

So to “fit” within those limits:

The permanent cuts were handed to corporations and top earners
The rest — including middle-class benefits — were made temporary

Now, we’re at the end of that 10-year window. And H.R. 1 makes clear who Congress wants to protect.

What About Small Businesses?

Another myth: that these tax policies help “business.”

H.R. 1 helps corporations and mega-firms — but gives small businesses nothing.

No extension of the small business deduction
No new credits or support for struggling entrepreneurs
No relief from rising rent, insurance, or interest rates

If you're a small business owner just trying to stay afloat, this bill does not work for you.

Short Explainer: What’s the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?

The EITC is a refundable tax credit that boosts income for low- to moderate-wage workers — especially those with kids. It’s one of the most effective anti-poverty tools we have.

In 2021, the credit was expanded to reach more workers without children and allow more people to qualify. But those improvements expired in 2022.

H.R. 1 does nothing to restore them.

What This Means for Florida

Parents in Duval and St. Johns counties will lose thousands in expired tax credits
Seniors face rising health care costs while billionaires pass down tax-free fortunes
Small business owners get no help, while big corporations keep their special deals
Honest taxpayers are left holding the bag while the IRS loses its ability to enforce the law

Take Action — Contact Your Florida Representatives

Tell them you expect a budget that supports families and small businesses, not the ultra-rich:

U.S. House Representatives (Duval & Surrounding)

Rep. Randy Fine (FL‑6)

Rep Fine Contact Info

Rep. John Rutherford (FL‑5 – covers parts of Duval County)

Rep Rutherford Contact Info

U.S. Senators

Sen. Ashley Moody (R–FL)

Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 224‑3041 (SR‑387 Russell Senate Office Building)
Tallahassee Office: (850) 599‑9100
Jacksonville Office: (904) 354‑4300

Sen. Rick Scott (R–FL)

Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 224‑5274
Tampa Office: 801 N. Florida Ave, Suite 421, Tampa, FL 33602; (813) 225‑7040

Sample Script:

Hi, I’m a constituent from <your> County. I’m concerned that H.R. 1 prioritizes tax cuts and enforcement relief for the ultra‑wealthy and corporations — while letting child and earned‑income tax credit expansions expire, and offering no help for small business owners. Please vote to protect those credits, keep IRS funding for enforcement, and oppose a plan that penalizes working families.”

Forward this article to two friends who think tax policy doesn’t affect them. It does.

Veto Power or Power Trip?

What HB 1445, Alligator Alcatraz and Emergency Declarations

Say About the State of our State

On July 2nd, Governor Ron DeSantis quietly vetoed HB 1445 — a bipartisan bill designed to rein in political interference by state agency heads and appointees. The bill passed both chambers of the Legislature. It had the potential to strengthen anti-corruption safeguards, protect civil servants from political coercion, and prevent further abuse of power at the top.

But instead of signing it, DeSantis used his veto pen — and, as far as we know to date, no serious challenge has emerged from Florida’s legislative leadership.

Why? Because they’ve allowed him to build a system where accountability is optional and emergency power is permanent.

What HB 1445 Would’ve Done — and Why It Mattered

HB 1445 wasn’t some abstract reform. It had clear, concrete guardrails designed to curb partisan meddling and hold appointees accountable:

Residency and citizenship requirements: Starting October 1, 2025, it required all executive branch department secretaries, executive directors, chief administrative officers, and other top appointees to be U.S. citizens and Florida residents — ensuring these officials have a vested stake in the communities they serve.
University oversight integrity: By January 6, 2027, it would ensure that members of the Board of Governors and university boards of trustees are either Florida residents or school alumni — anchoring influence in local accountability.
Tighter travel budgets for agency bosses: It explicitly barred reimbursement for travel between a department head’s residence and their base of operations — a modest but direct accountability measure.
Political activity clampdown: It closed critical loopholes by banning state and local officials — including appointed agency heads — from using official authority to solicit donations, influence voting, or engage in partisan campaigning while on duty.

This was straightforward anti-corruption work, and it passed overwhelmingly: House 97–1. Senate 37–0. Bipartisan to the core. Let that sink in.

Even conservative voices acknowledged it “merely extends to agency heads the same rules that legislators live under.”

Why the Legislature Needs to Override That Veto

The bill was clearly on the right track — aimed at aligning appointee integrity with public service standards and protecting electoral systems from undue influence. But DeSantis didn’t mince words: he vetoed it, calling some provisions unconstitutional and rejecting its political activity restrictions.

Here’s the problem: if the Legislature doesn’t override this veto, they’re effectively saying they’re OK with unchecked appointees, unchecked spending, and unchecked political interference. The bill already had near-unanimous support — but enforcement requires follow-through.

A veto override is still possible, but on the Legislature now. If they fail to take that step? That failure will speak volumes: they had the chance to stand up, and they walked away.

"Alligator Alcatraz" and the Abuse of Emergency Powers

On the same day DeSantis vetoed HB 1445, the public was still reeling from revelations about a taxpayer-funded “immigrant detention facility” being built in the Florida Everglades — dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by critics.

Here’s the kicker: the project didn’t go through the usual appropriations process. It didn’t even go through the Legislature. Instead, it’s being funded through a “state of emergency” that DeSantis declared over immigration at the southern border — and has repeatedly extended, despite no real emergency inside Florida’s borders.

This legally questionable maneuver grants DeSantis sweeping discretion to redirect public funds without legislative approval — including the use of a multi-billion-dollar “Emergency Response Fund” that’s been effectively turned into a gubernatorial slush fund.

That’s no exaggeration. Under Florida Statutes § 252.32 and § 252.3711, a declared state of emergency gives the governor the power to suspend ordinary legal processes and spend funds at his discretion. DeSantis first declared an immigration “emergency” in January 2023 via Executive Order 23-03 — and he’s been renewing it approximately every 60 days ever since, despite no credible emergency inside Florida’s borders. Under Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 252.36(3)(a)), the Legislature has the authority to terminate a state of emergency at any time through a concurrent resolution — but to date, they haven’t lifted a finger. That ongoing declaration has unlocked access to nearly half a billion dollars in so-called emergency funding, in so-called emergency funding, much of which has been spent without competitive bidding, public hearings, or even legislative awareness.

Let THAT sink in.

That’s how the detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” internment camp came to be — fast-tracked through executive order, no-bid contracts, and seized Everglades land.

🔍 Connect the Dots: Power Consolidated, Checks Evaporated

These two stories — the veto of HB 1445 and the Alligator Alcatraz spending — aren’t separate. They’re symptoms of the same disease.

Florida’s Legislature has ceded its authority, both willingly and quietly. In theory, the power of the purse belongs to the legislative branch. In practice, DeSantis has maneuvered around them using loopholes, legal gray areas, and a loyal political apparatus that refuses to push back.

We’re now living in a Florida where:

Agency heads can interfere with elections.
The governor can extend fake emergencies indefinitely.
Public funds can be rerouted to pet projects without legislative input.
Cronies can receive massive no-bid contracts for ethically dubious schemes.
And the Legislature — supposedly a co-equal branch — won’t even fight back.

This isn’t just a policy concern. It’s a structural crisis. When checks and balances are deliberately dismantled, the result isn’t “efficiency” — it’s autocracy by another name.

📉 What’s Next?

The veto of HB 1445 shouldn’t go unnoticed. It was a litmus test — and the Legislature failed it. Again.

In the meantime, we’ll keep watching:

The state of emergency declarations (and how long they’re extended),
The spending from the Emergency Response Fund,
The contracts awarded to politically connected firms,
And any new attempts to normalize unaccountable executive power.

Because this isn’t just about one bill or one detention center. It’s about who we are as a state — and whether the people we elect still believe in government by the people, for the people.

Sources and Further Reading: