Olszewski Amendment Targets Medicaid Work Requirements

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Johnny Olszewski this morning introduced an amendment to the Republican budget reconciliation bill that would guarantee jobs are available to satisfy proposed work requirements for the Medicaid program. The misguided and unnecessary work requirements are part of Republicans’ plans to cut $300 billion in Medicaid to offset tax credits for the wealthy.

Olszewski offered the amendment during a marathon hearing before the House Rules Committee that began at 1 a.m. this morning. It is among 537 proposed amendments, which House Republicans are largely expected to strike down.
 

“My Republican colleagues are debating this big, ugly bill budget under the cloak of darkness because they don’t want the public to know what’s in it for average Americans – which is nothing,” Congressman Olszewski said. “These work requirements will cost millions of Americans their healthcare coverage without achieving any real economic savings.”

“The vast majority of able-bodied Medicaid recipients are already working,” he continued. “But if my Republican colleagues insist on implementing new work requirements, we should also insist that work is readily available.”

More than 90 percent of adult Medicaid enrollees are either already working, are in school, are serving as a caregiver or unable to work due to illness or disability, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.  Most are working low-wage, hourly or seasonal jobs in vital industries including childcare, manufacturing and agriculture that don’t offer employer-sponsored health care.
Congressman Olszewski’s amendment would require the Secretary of Labor to establish a national employment placement program that provides a broad range of public and private employment opportunities. Anyone seeking employment within the job placement program would be exempt from the Medicaid work requirements.

The Congressman also cosponsored amendments to help lower costs for working families and protect public safety. They included measures to continue tax credits for renewable energy production and energy-efficient home improvements, as well as to maintain a tax on firearm silencers.