Rescission package vote casts shadow over health care initiatives

WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans early on Friday morning passed legislation to take back money they had already appropriated for this year, enacting steep cuts to foreign aid and to public broadcasting.

And while none of the funding was for domestic health care programs, the passage of the so-called rescissions package could jeopardize bipartisan health care measures this year. 

That’s because it’s likely to make Democrats wary of working across the aisle with Republicans, now that the party has shown a willingness to go back on previous deals. Further complicating matters, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought told reporters that he plans to send Congress another rescissions package, without specifying what will be in it.