Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told CBS-affiliate WABI5 Thursday she is certain the Republican tax bill will not require Medicare cuts — a promise she has in writing from House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., she said.
"There is a real fear that the tax bill is going to trigger a 4 percent cut in Medicare," she told WABI5. "I am absolutely certain that the up to 4 percent cut in Medicare that I mentioned will not occur."
An analysis from the Congressional Budget Office in November estimated the tax bill could trigger pay-as-you-go rules because it increases the deficit. If offsets are not made, the Office of Management and Budget would issue a budget sequestration, which would reduce spending — potentially cutting Medicare by $25 billion in 2018. Congress can vote to waive the pay-as-you-go rule, and Mr. McConnell and Mr. Ryan issued a joint statement earlier this week promising the rule would be waived.
However, Mr. Ryan also plans to separately address entitlement reform in 2018, according to a report from The Hill.
Watch Ms. Collins' statement here.
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