It was a couple of weeks ago when the White House first let Congress know that the administration is looking for an additional $200 billion on top of existing military spending to help cover the costs associated with the war with Iran. When Donald Trump was asked why he needed the money, the president told reporters early last week, “It’s always nice to have.”....

Broadly speaking, members have three options. They could simply decline to approve the additional spending, as most Democrats and even some Republicans are prepared to do. They also have the choice of passing legislation to spend the $200 billion, adding the costs to the nation’s budget deficit, which tends to be how modern military conflicts have been financed.

The third option, however, is the one that’s suddenly receiving the most attention: Lawmakers could approve the new spending, while cutting a comparable amount of existing spending to prevent a $200 billion increase in the deficit.

And where exactly would members find $200 billion? Axios reported:

Republicans are considering reductions in federal health spending to help pay for a budget bill containing as much as $200 billion to fund the Iran war and immigration enforcement.

New efforts to rein in health programs are sure to be controversial and open the GOP up to election-year attacks that they’re cutting health care to pay for an unpopular war.

....But that GOP officials are eyeing one unpopular idea (additional cuts to federal health care spending) to cover the costs of another unpopular idea (the ongoing war with Iran) is every bit as extraordinary as it appears. What’s more, that they’re considering these plans during an election year in which Republicans are already facing electoral headwinds looks an awful lot like political malpractice — and an unexpected gift to Democrats.....

A new Gallup poll found that 61% of Americans are worried “a great deal” about “the availability and affordability of health care.” That’s the most of any issue (51% are worried a great deal about the economy, and 50% about inflation) and it should send an unmistakable signal to policymakers about the public’s priorities.

With 31 weeks remaining before Election Day 2026, it’s a signal many Republicans appear ready to ignore.