The Obama administration has floated a plan to cut tens of billions of dollars from Medicare and Medicaid in an effort to trim the ballooning budget deficit. Republicans may balk at the offer since it comes with tax increases, The New York Times reports. Officials say cuts can be made without an impact on needy recipients. The two programs insure more than 100 million people and account for 23% of federal spending. Critics of the Obama proposal say the programs must be protected. William Minnix, the chief lobbyist for nonprofit nursing homes, urged citizens to "bombard your senators" with messages of protest.
