Document QkjxDd7p2RokmyYgDaNmXXqxE

person working group he appointed has swelled at times to more than 20 Republicans so that each member can feel his or her voice is getting heard and is a part of the process; McConnell also has made health care the topic of each his conference's thriceweekly lunches." http://politi.co/2rsqRuk COMING ATTRACTIONS -- "Trump to propose big cuts to safety-net in new budget, slashing Medicaid and opening door to other limits," by WaPo's Damian Paletta: "President Trump's first major budget proposal on Tuesday will include massive cuts to Medicaid and call for changes to anti-poverty programs that would give states new power to limit a range of benefits, people familiar with the planning said, despite growing unease in Congress about cutting the safety net. For Medicaid, the state-federal program that provides health care to low-income Americans, Trump's budget plan would follow through on a bill passed by House Republicans to cut more than $800 billion over 10 years. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that this could cut off Medicaid benefits for about 10 million people over the next decade. ... "Trump's decision to include the Medicaid cuts is significant because it shows he is rejecting calls from a number of Senate Republicans not to reverse the expansion of Medicaid that President Barack Obama achieved as part of the Affordable Care Act. The House has voted to cut the Medicaid funding, but Senate Republicans have signaled they are likely to start from scratch." http://wapo.st/2rsFopX --@maggieNYT: "POTUS who campaigned on preserving Medicare and SS continues to make Manhattan Institute circa 1996 proposals" ****** a message from the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs (CAPD) One in two Americans rely on their employers for health care benefits including affordable access to prescription drugs. That's why employers are partnering with PBMs to provide access to effective medications at the most affordable price and improve health outcomes. Learn more at www.affordableprescriptiondrugs.org. ****** 2018 WATCH -- "Paging Rahm: House Dems revive 2006 playbook for 2018," by Isaac Dovere and Gabe Debenedetti: "An unpopular president, the scent of corruption in Washington, a riled-up liberal base - to House Democrats, 2018 is already looking like 2006 on overdrive. Now Democrats see the same ugly storm forming for Republicans that delivered them the majority 11 years ago, and they're digging out the blueprint. The party is vastly expanding the number of districts it plans to contest, recruiting veterans and business owners to compete in conservative terrain as it did back then. "Three senior House Democrats are soon heading to Chicago to seek advice from Rahm Emanuel, the party's 2006 master strategist. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (DCalif.) has been tutoring members on the party's campaign efforts that year. And outside groups have gotten in on the revival spirit, too, with large organizations, including MoveOn.org, diving into their email archives and seeking out lessons from people on the front lines in 2006." http://politi.co/2q1Qank -- IT'S WORTH NOTING: While some of the political dynamics are similar to 2006, that election was more than a decade ago. Since then, redistricting has tilted the scale toward Republicans. Probably more importantly, the internal fissures between the Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren wing of the party and the Hillary Clinton wing of the party are far from being resolved, which could lead to brutal primary battles instead of a unified assault on Republicans. HE'S BACK... -- "Pence attacks campus 'political correctness'," by Bianca Padro Ocasio: "Vice President Mike Pence denounced mounting attacks on freedom of speech on college campuses during his commencement speech at the University of Notre Dame, including 'administration-sanctioned political correctness.' 'This university is a vanguard of freedom of expression and the free exchange of ideas at a time, sadly, when free speech and civility are waning on campuses across America,' he told the graduating class on Sunday. ''While this institution has maintained an atmosphere of civility and open debate, far too many campuses across America have become characterized by speech codes, safe zones, tone policing, administration-sanctioned political correctness - all of which amounts to nothing less than suppression of the freedom of speech,' the vice president added. The former Indiana governor encouraged the graduates to speak up against 'the increasing intolerance' toward opposing views, which he said are 'destructive of learning.'' http://politi.co/2rsw0CP --@FoxNews: "WATCH: Students Walk Out of @VP #MikePence's Graduation Speech at #NotreDame" http://bit.ly/2qLzgIH -- PENCE is on the Hill today for meetings with members of Congress. FOR YOUR RADAR -- "North Korea says ready to deploy, mass produce new missile," by AP's Eric Talmadge in Tokyo: "North Korea says it's ready to deploy and start mass-producing a new medium-range missile capable of reaching Japan and major U.S. military bases there following a test launch it claims confirmed the missile's