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How politics screwed Puerto Rico out of billions in disaster aid
The hurricane-wracked island was denied billions in extra Medicaid funds. Now Republicans and Democrats are sniping over who’s to blame.
On Wednesday night, as Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and his top lieutenants struggled to pass the disaster aid package — as well as a funding bill to keep the government open — House Majority Whip Steve Scalise reached out to Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) with an offer: Would Democrats back the disaster supplemental if Republicans added billions in Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico?
At that point, Scalise and…