May 23, 2025
NBC Boston recently published an article featuring Jay Zagorsky, Clinical Associate Professor of Markets, Public Policy and Law, discussing how Massachusetts leaders are expressing concern as a narrowly passed House bill supporting President Trump’s agenda moves to the Senate.
The bill would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, raise the debt ceiling by nearly $4 trillion, and cut funding for SNAP and Medicaid, impacting vulnerable groups like seniors, children, and people with disabilities. Local officials warn of potential cuts to VA hospitals and increased costs for electric vehicle owners. With over 2 million Massachusetts residents on Medicaid and more than a million relying on SNAP, experts caution that tighter work requirements and new excise taxes could create serious challenges for many families.
“There’s about 7 million people in Massachusetts, and of those 7 million, slightly more than 2 million are on Medicaid. The Medicaid entitlement has been made a little bit stingier and much tighter — there’s a work requirement for people who are not elderly and not infirm,” Zagorsky adds, explaining the local impact.
The Senate, with a slim Republican majority, plans to make limited changes before voting, with House leaders urging minimal revisions to avoid delays.
