Current Events

1. What are the two potential outcomes regarding the border wall that Trump implied in his speech? National emergency declared to get it built or the government would shut down again. 2. What would Democrats argue if Trump declared a national emergency to slow illegal immigration? They would say that the wall would be unconstitutional. 3. How did Bush and Obama use the emergency powers of the president? Used them to prevent detrimental attacks or threats to the country; Bush-9/11 and Obama-Swine flu outbreak 4. What restrictions does the National Emergencies Act of 1976 put on the president? Requires the joint resolution to override the president's declaration. 5. If Trump does declare a national emergency, what obstacles may he face? Congress could override his decision and there could be many challenges in the courts on his legal authority and whether his actions are constitutional or not. 6. How could the president use the military to accomplish this policy goal? Use the mi...

1. What agency is mentioned as developing a plan for Trump to turn Medicaid into block grants? CMS 2. How would Medicaid change if the program was changed to a block grant style implementation? States would receive a set amount of federal funding, instead of the open-ended funding commitment they currently receive from the feds  3. What was the effect of some states adding work requirements to receiving Medicaid benefits? Thousands of people in states implementing them have lost coverage. 4. Which president's administration was responsible for the creation of the Medicaid program? Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society 5. How many people are insured by the Medicaid program in the United States? 75 million 6. What was the effect of the Affordable Care Act on the Medicaid program? It made Medicaid expand heavily and made it a universal health care program 7. What types of Medicaid recipients would be exempt from work requirements? Children, elderly, disabled, and pregnant women...

1.When was the second longest government shutdown? Dec 1994 2. Which government departments are not affected by this shutdown? These plans vary significantly by agency. In some departments like Homeland Security, an overwhelming majority of its employees are considered “essential,” while in agencies like the IRS, for example, a majority have been deemed “nonessential” and furloughed. 3. What is the difference between essential and nonessential employees? These plans vary significantly by agency. In some departments like Homeland Security, an overwhelming majority of its employees are considered “essential,” while in agencies like the IRS, for example, a majority have been deemed “nonessential” and furloughed. 4. Which two departments have the highest % of furloughed employees? Homeland 5. Which two agencies (They aren't called "Dept. of ___" have the highest % of  furloughed employees? Agriculture and IRA 6. Which states have the most employees impacted by the...