House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows predicted Friday that the Republican Congress would move early next year to tackle some of the entitlement reforms that conservatives have been demanding.
Meadows agreed on MSNBC Friday that the GOP’s plan to cut taxes isn’t enough to return the government to fiscal stability, even though may Republicans believe it will create growth that will offset some of the federal revenues lost after taxes are cut.
“You’re right, that is the top fiscal thing that we have to worry about,” Meadows said when asked about the need to reform programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
“And quite frankly, not enough is being done,” he added. “I can tell you, members of the Freedom Caucus have not only put forth a bill that looks at defining and reforming Medicare, but also other entitlement programs.”
“I do believe that you will see some initiatives starting in the first quarter of next year, not necessarily on Social Security and Medicare,” Meadows added.
Meadows said some of the issues Republicans will try to tackle include things like work requirements for welfare. He noted that this requirement was imposed under President Bill Clinton.
“And so I think you will see some of those starting in earnest in the first quarter of next year,” he said. “But you’re right, we’ve got to get serious about it, and if we don’t, all the pro-growth tax reform in the world is not going to ultimately balance out where we need to go as a nation fiscally.”
