“The Republican reconciliation instructions direct $880 billion in cuts within the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP,” said Senator Murray. “You responded to a question from House Ranking Member Brendan Boyle and Frank Pallone in March regarding spending within the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction, excluding Medicare—which Republicans say is off the table. In your response, you said over 10 years, Medicaid outlays will account for 93% of baseline budget projections for Energy and Commerce, is that correct?”

“Yes, that is correct,” said Swagel.

“And if you add in CHIP, is it fair to say you are now talking north of 95%?” Murray followed up.

Swagel confirmed, “That’s right. Once you take out Medicaid and CHIP there is only $381 billion still in the current baseline.”

Senator Murray reiterated: “So looking at table 1 in that March 5th letter, is it fair to say the remainder is nowhere close to that $880 billion?”

“That’s correct in the letter that we sent to Mr. Boyle and Mr. Pallone, the dollars after Medicare, Medicare, and CHIP are much smaller than the instruction,” Swagel responded.

“Okay, so for the record, I just want to say it would appear to me to be impossible for Energy and Commerce – the committee with jurisdiction– to reach the spending cuts required under the Republican reconciliation instructions without cutting Medicaid, or putting Medicare back on the table,”Murray concluded.