With our national debt in excess of $36 trillion and rising, there can be little doubt that putting America’s fiscal house in order should be our priority.

As budget discussions continue, conservatives are rightfully demanding greater fiscal responsibility. However, putting our nation’s finances back on track should not be done on the backs of the poor, the disadvantaged or the infirm.

We may not agree on the causes, but all Americans can attest to the effects of economic pressures on their daily lives. Life often brings unexpected harm and misfortune, and during unfortunate times, Americans rely on Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as safeguards to survive life’s storms.

As policymakers begin initial markups on budget reconciliation, now is not the time to overhaul programs that protect Americans when they need them the most.

Fiscal responsibility, limited government and compassion for all Americans are what conservatism is all about. Our philosophy is one of limited government — an honest government that exists to do for people what they cannot do for themselves.

Not only would any degree of federal cuts to these programs cause real, immediate harm, but these proposed cuts also contradict our foundational values. Eliminate waste, fraud and abuse, of course, in an effort to improve the Medicaid program — but leave the program intact.

The proposal for more stringent work requirements, which has grown in popularity, poses a particular threat to our most vulnerable. While it may seem a logical first step in weeding out bad actors, the reality is that most recipients already work. Heightened standards could harm single mothers trying to make ends meet for their young children, and veterans seeking care in their final stages of life.

It could strain the already tenuous grasp caregivers have on the health of the elderly or the disabled. This is not to mention the difficulty and high cost of implementing requirements as states seek to comply with new standards.

Additional work requirements wouldn’t achieve their apparent goal; it would terminate coverage for countless Americans who count on it.

Recent polling of GOP voters finds they are not supportive of overhauling Medicaid. In fact, a majority (82 percent) want lawmakers to protect or expand these programs. Same goes for SNAP. Republican voters don’t see these programs as handouts — they view them as lifelines extending to all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

The vast majority of SNAP recipients and Medicaid enrollees engage with these programs honorably. If cuts persist, single-parent households will buckle under increased food insecurity, and empty pantries will push children and adolescents from the house or school.

Veterans, who rely on SNAP to complement their VA benefits, will be stretched thin in their final years. Loved ones will forgo care due to revoked access, and could develop chronic conditions, often more deadly, and ultimately more expensive for the American taxpayer. Hospitals will shutter; care deserts will grow. These are not only probable but likely scenarios.

There is no doubt that federal belt-tightening is badly needed, but Medicaid and SNAP cuts would upend state and local economies. SNAP spending injects vital funds into communities. Sure, grocery stores benefit up front, but what is less visible is the ripple effect of subsequent purchases at surrounding, often small, businesses. Federal cuts may fortify the balance sheet in the short term, but state and local economies will be stifled in the long run.

The argument isn’t for unchecked spending; we need smart, targeted investments. SNAP and Medicaid are not immune to error. It’s important to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse, but we must preserve the only healthcare and nutritional access that many children, veterans and caregivers have.

Don’t ignore the reality that these programs are pro-work, pro-family and pro-economy. These programs should be viewed as short-term investments in low-income communities that ultimately enable them to weather life’s storms. We must advocate for commonsense, conservative legislation that balances fiscal restraint with human dignity.

Trump has said that, besides waste, fraud and abuse, Medicaid won’t be touched. All conservatives should follow his lead.

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ABOUT THE WRITER

Dee Stewart is the president and CEO of Americans for a Balanced Budget. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.

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