$139 Million Vaccines Budget Line Item

Josh cites the $139 million allocation for vaccines as a centerpiece of his budget deal pitched to OMB aides in the Roosevelt Room. Max points to it when pressing Josh on removing the separate $12 million earmark for the First Lady's CDC immunization education, questioning redundancy in spending. The figure fuels sharp debate, with Josh defending its scale as sufficient cover for cuts elsewhere.

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S4E17 · Red Haven's On Fire

The $12 Million Trade — Pragmatism vs. Loyalty

The $139 million vaccines line item is referenced by Max to argue that immunization education was intended to be separately funded; it functions as contextual cover that Josh uses (or ignores) when justifying the cut. It stands as a larger budget figure that makes the $12M feel either redundant or essential, depending on viewpoint.

Before: Included in the budget materials presented for discussion as the larger vaccines allocation.

After: Remains in the submission; its presence becomes part of the justification/argument over whether the separate $12M is necessary.

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