Lisa Desjardins:
And now it’s in my head too. I know, exactly. Well, we’re going to lay this out exactly, make it all very clear.
So let’s look at where this rescissions package we have been talking about stands right now. So originally the proposal was for $9.4 billion with a B cuts overall. But now senators have drawn a line and it has been reduced. Now the cut proposal is expected to be $9 billion.
What has changed? Well, cuts have been restored, $400 million with an M in health, global health funding, and especially that includes PEPFAR, which, of course, is a global AIDS/HIV prevention and treatment program.
Now, in addition to this, I want to make one smaller note. The White House also pledged a very small amount, relatively $9 million, for Native American radio stations. Why does that matter? They did that to win a vote. It is the vote of this man, Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota. He’s someone who didn’t like this rescissions package and, frankly, was one of the people who probably could have killed it.
But he said he got a deal for this $9 million. It’s said to affect some 28 radio stations, he told the press, across the country. We are waiting for the first votes as soon as tonight, next few hours.
