Right of Center Weekly Updates

Highlights

• Republicans in Congress are strategizing on how to pay for their massive reconciliation bill that will cost trillions of dollars. The Freedom Caucus and many other fiscal conservatives want to reduce SNAP funding or modify existing rules to help pay for the tax package. More on this in the coming weeks.
• The Good Reads Section has a link to familiarize advocates with the new “freshman” members of Congress from our target states. We would encourage folks to read that.
• While Republicans have traditionally been concerned about the deficit it is now trendy/popular to highlight the need for austerity. Any messaging on PN3 issues should also mention the long term positive impacts of this upfront funding.

Federal

• CMS announced 15 participants for its state Transforming Maternal Health Model, including Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi, which will provide technical support and resources to state Medicaid agencies to develop programs that address new mothers’ physical health, mental health, and social needs during pregnancy and postpartum. The model launched on Jan. 1 and will run for 10 years. More info here.
• AL Senator Katie Britt (R) plans to continue advocating for the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act, which have received widespread support, in the 119^th Congress, including in the upcoming tax proposal set for consideration in 2026. She also plans to continue her push for maternal health initiatives. More info here.
• Florida Congressman Aaron Bean (R) was elevated to the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over all aspects of tax policies.
  • Why This Is Important: This year is the “Tax Superbowl” because the Trump Tax Cuts expire at the end of 2025, and having Bean join the committee gives Florida an extra set at the table. Bean also will sit on the subcommittee dealing with TANF and child care.

State

• Maternal Health Arkansas is receiving a $17 million federal grant to support efforts to improve the health outcomes of pregnant women, new mothers, and babies. More info on the grant here.
  • “Healthy moms means healthy babies,” Governor Sanders said. “Pursuing this grant was one of the first major recommendations of the Strategic Committee for Maternal Health I convened, and it will facilitate much of the rest of our work to increase the maternal care workforce, invest in technology and research to help new moms, and connect expecting moms with health care providers in all corners of the state.”
  • Senator John Boozman (R) said “Arkansas’s selection to participate in the Transforming Maternal Health Model is welcome news. I led our congressional delegation in supporting this application after its impact was discussed at my NWA maternal health roundtable”.
• Medicaid Mississippi Legislative leaders plan to delay action or introduce placeholder bills on Medicaid expansion, awaiting potential changes from President-elect Trump and his CMS appointee. They aim to maintain flexibility as they monitor federal policy shifts affecting Medicaid funding. More info here.
• Sun Bucks Florida has declined to participate in the federally funded Sun Bucks program for the second consecutive year, which assists low-income families with groceries during the summer. State officials cited concerns over federal oversight. More info here.
  • Why This Is Important: Over a dozen GOP states have previously opted out of Sun Bucks even though food prices are high because of opposition to federal funding and fear of promoting a welfare state attitude.
• Medicaid Alabama Senate President Garlan Gudger said he was open to looking at ALLHealth, Blue Cross Blue Shield’s proposal to use Medicaid expansion money to give insurance to over 100,000 Alabamians in the “coverage gap,” but the “bottom line” is the cost and how it impacts Alabamians. More info here.
• Maternal Health Numerous Arkansas Republicans took to social media to promote efforts in the upcoming legislative session to promote maternal health. As a reminder, the Governor’s budget proposal includes $13 million in new Medicaid funding for recommendations made by the task force. More info here.

Good Reads

• Child care is unaffordable and inaccessible, Britt and Kaine introduce two bills
  • Great op-ed by Rhonda Mann from Voices for Alabama.
• Disproportionate number of Mississippi mothers died preventable deaths during COVID
• Helpful Resource on All New Freshman Members of Congress Here.
  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Texas

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!