Republicans Release Plan to Cut Medicaid by $880 Billion; Hampton U's $100K Dr. Mellanda Colson Scott Scholarship; Hashmi LG Ad

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The U.S House Will Feature Big Votes This Week

Below: Members of the Virginia congressional delegation in the U.S. House

Republicans in Congress Plan to Cut Medicaid: Will Reps. Kiggans and Wittman Vote Yes?

MAGA Republicans in the U.S. House propose largest Medicaid cut in history.

House Republicans have unveiled a budget that cuts at least $880 billion to Medicaid assistance. As congressional Democrats have repeated for months, the cuts are being proposed by Republicans, led by President Trump, to execute a $4.5 trillion tax break for wealthy Americans.

The budget proposal by Republicans in the U.S. House, led by Speaker Mike Johnson was revealed late last night. The fight is a return to the 2017 attempt by Republics to kill the Affordable Care Act in the second year of Trump’s first term. A markup of the bill will begin tomorrow at 2pm.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), who is the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which makes decisions on health care spending, released a pointed statement last night.

“Republicans finally released the bill they’ve been drafting behind closed doors for months to make catastrophic cuts to Americans’ health care… This bill confirms what we’ve been saying all along, Trump and Republicans have been lying when they claim they aren’t going to cut Medicaid and take away people’s health care,” Pallone said in a pointed statement.

Two Virginia Republicans who will be in the spotlight this week will be Reps. Jen Kiggans and Rob Wittman. They’ve proclaimed that they won’t vote to cute Medicaid in a letter even though previous votes were de facto support to do exactly that. A new CBO report demonstrates the massive cuts in health care.

This week is certain to include calls to lawmakers from President Trump and it won’t be a surprise if Kiggans and Wittman are on Medicaid-cut-call list. Both Kiggans and Wittman have avoid public town halls with constituents as Trump’s poll numbers dive and the public demonstrates opposition to cuts to health care services.

NEW PODCAST - EP51 🎙️ Democrats Field a Candidate in ALL of the 100 House of Delegates Seats with Fergie Reid, Jr.

Speaker Don Scott Announces $100,000 Scholarship in Honor of Wife, Dr. Mellanda Colson Scott

During his commencement address at Hampton University on May 11, Speaker of the Virginia House Don Scott announced the creation of a $100,000 scholarship in honor of his wife, Dr. Mellanda Colson Scott, a graduate of Hampton University’s Class of 1993.

The Dr. Mellanda Colson Scott Scholarship will “support Hampton University students majoring in chemistry who aspire to pursue careers in dentistry,” according to a release from the Speaker’s office today.

Dr. Colson Scott, who majored in chemistry before becoming a dentist, has championed the value of education and mentorship—particularly for students from underserved communities entering the medical and dental fields.

“Hampton University didn’t just prepare me for a career, it shaped who I am,” said Dr. Mellanda Colson Scott. “I love this Home by the Sea and the education and experiences I gained here were the foundation to my success. It’s truly a privilege to now help support the next generation of students, leaders, and dentists,” Dr. Scott said in a statement today.

The scholarship will be administered by Hampton University and is expected to start in the fall of 2025.

Newport News Named Top Employer of Military Spouses

Military.com has named Newport News a top “2025 Top Military Spouse Employer.” The city is the only municipality to make the Military.com list.” Military.com is a leading news and information website vets and service members.

“This recognition underscores the city’s steadfast commitment to supporting military spouses through inclusive hiring practices and career development opportunities,” read a release by the city on May 12.

Podcast 50 🎙️ John Reid, History… and Blackmail? With attorney and former Gov. L. Doug Wilder’s campaign manager Paul Goldman

FIRST TV AD IN LG RACE: Senator Ghazala Hashmi Hits the Airwaves

HASHMI FIRST AD OF LG RACE. In an ad featuring Delegates Mike Jones and Rae Cousins and State Senator Jeremy McPike, State Senator Ghazala Hashmi released her first ad for her 2025 campaign for Lieutenant Governor today. Sen. Hashmi’s ad goes after President Trump and focuses on protecting Medicaid. The thirty second spot also includes Richmond School Board member Dr. Shonda Harris-Muhammed.

After Reports of Possible Shortages, Trump Flips on Tariff Policy

TRUMP FLIPS ON TARIFFS AND CHINA. President Tump’s cycle of leadership has been represented in several charts on social media

Podcast EP47 🎙️ Legacy Civil Rights vs. Trump

Rep. Scott Wants Answers on Civil Rights Investigations

Rep. Bobby Scott, who is the top Democrat on the Committee of Education and Workforce in the U.S. House, demanded answers from Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Recent reports indicate that mass layoffs at the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will result in pending being abandoned. A May 2, 2025 story in ProPublica investigated the issue.

“As of January 2025, OCR reported a backlog of over 12,000 cases. Soon thereafter, the Department let go nearly half of OCR’s staff and closed seven out of twelve regional OCR offices that investigate discrimination,” a May 12 statement by Rep, Scott read.

“In California, the federal government was deep into an investigation of alleged racial discrimination at a school district where, a parent said, students called a Black peer racial slurs and played whipping sounds from their cellphones during a lesson about slavery,” the ProPublica report stated.

“Then the U.S. Department of Education in March suddenly closed the California regional outpost of its Office for Civil Rights and fired all its employees there. That investigation and others went silent,” according to ProPublica. With Stephen Miller in the ear of President Trump there have been several clear signs that the Trump Administration will continue to ignore racism directed at African Americans. Trump’s staff have embarked on one of the most outwardly anti-Black policy agendas since Woodrow Wilson was in The White House from 1913 to 1920.

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