james m nordlund
2005-12-24 06:01:26 UTC
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 14:07:46 -0500 (EST)
Last Chance to Derail Budget Reconciliation Take Action!
http://capwiz.com/thearc/issues/alert/?alertid=8339736&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]
Contact Your House Member
Background
The House of Representatives, upon its return for the start of the 109th
Congress's Second Session in late January, will vote once again on the
Budget Reconciliation Conference Report. While this report contains a bit
of
good news, it has lots of very bad news for Medicaid recipients, along
with
bad policies for TANF and SSI recipients.
In this Reconciliation conference report, the Congress would cut human
services entitlement spending by almost $40 billion over 5 years. Medicaid
would be cut by $6.9 billion, with new Medicaid spending increased by $2.1
billion for new benefits to hurricane victims and expanded eligibility
under
the Family Opportunity Act and the Money Follows the Individuals
Demonstrations. The bill also would save about $1 billion by delaying back
payments to SSI beneficiaries and place onerous work requirements on TANF
recipients. The upcoming House vote represents the likely last opportunity
for disability advocates to defeat this very harmful bill.
Status
The House of Representatives passed the conference report by a six vote
margin at 6:00 a.m. on Monday morning, after a rare all-night Sunday
session. Sixteen House members failed to vote. The Senate then voted 51 to
50 to pass the Budget Reconciliation bill on Wednesday, with Vice
President
Cheney casting the tie-breaking vote. Prior to the final vote, however, a
"point of order" was allowed, stripping several non-germane provisions
from
the bill. This action now necessitates another House vote before the bill
can be sent to the President for his signature.
Action Needed
This is our last chance to derail the Budget Reconciliation Report. Please
contact your Member of the U.S. House of Representatives between now and
their return to Washington, probably in late January. It may be possible
to
meet personally with these Members during the holiday break. In any case,
you should contact them through their Washington office.
Here's how you can help!
Call and/or visit your Representative (find your House member's phone
number
by clicking here) and tell them:
As your constituent, I urge you to oppose the Budget Reconciliation
Conference Report when the full House votes on the amended report, which
recently passed the Senate;
This report cuts Medicaid at a time when low income Americans and victims
of
the hurricanes desperately need this program the most. Cutting Medicaid is
both reckless and unnecessary;
There are hundreds of thousands of our people with disabilities who are
now
on waiting lists for Medicaid long-term supports. Medicaid needs to be
expanded, not cut, to address vital human needs;
It is unconscionable and fiscally irresponsible to pay for hurricane
relief
and deficit reduction on the backs of poor people with disabilities;
Eliminating tax cuts, not expanding them, is a more appropriate and
responsible mechanism to achieve deficit reduction; and
Thank you
Or send an email/letter to your House Member. Click here to send the
message
that Medicaid and SSI should not be cut to help balance the budget.
__________________________________________
Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about.
Just $16.99/mo. or less.
dsl.yahoo.com
Last Chance to Derail Budget Reconciliation Take Action!
http://capwiz.com/thearc/issues/alert/?alertid=8339736&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]
Contact Your House Member
Background
The House of Representatives, upon its return for the start of the 109th
Congress's Second Session in late January, will vote once again on the
Budget Reconciliation Conference Report. While this report contains a bit
of
good news, it has lots of very bad news for Medicaid recipients, along
with
bad policies for TANF and SSI recipients.
In this Reconciliation conference report, the Congress would cut human
services entitlement spending by almost $40 billion over 5 years. Medicaid
would be cut by $6.9 billion, with new Medicaid spending increased by $2.1
billion for new benefits to hurricane victims and expanded eligibility
under
the Family Opportunity Act and the Money Follows the Individuals
Demonstrations. The bill also would save about $1 billion by delaying back
payments to SSI beneficiaries and place onerous work requirements on TANF
recipients. The upcoming House vote represents the likely last opportunity
for disability advocates to defeat this very harmful bill.
Status
The House of Representatives passed the conference report by a six vote
margin at 6:00 a.m. on Monday morning, after a rare all-night Sunday
session. Sixteen House members failed to vote. The Senate then voted 51 to
50 to pass the Budget Reconciliation bill on Wednesday, with Vice
President
Cheney casting the tie-breaking vote. Prior to the final vote, however, a
"point of order" was allowed, stripping several non-germane provisions
from
the bill. This action now necessitates another House vote before the bill
can be sent to the President for his signature.
Action Needed
This is our last chance to derail the Budget Reconciliation Report. Please
contact your Member of the U.S. House of Representatives between now and
their return to Washington, probably in late January. It may be possible
to
meet personally with these Members during the holiday break. In any case,
you should contact them through their Washington office.
Here's how you can help!
Call and/or visit your Representative (find your House member's phone
number
by clicking here) and tell them:
As your constituent, I urge you to oppose the Budget Reconciliation
Conference Report when the full House votes on the amended report, which
recently passed the Senate;
This report cuts Medicaid at a time when low income Americans and victims
of
the hurricanes desperately need this program the most. Cutting Medicaid is
both reckless and unnecessary;
There are hundreds of thousands of our people with disabilities who are
now
on waiting lists for Medicaid long-term supports. Medicaid needs to be
expanded, not cut, to address vital human needs;
It is unconscionable and fiscally irresponsible to pay for hurricane
relief
and deficit reduction on the backs of poor people with disabilities;
Eliminating tax cuts, not expanding them, is a more appropriate and
responsible mechanism to achieve deficit reduction; and
Thank you
Or send an email/letter to your House Member. Click here to send the
message
that Medicaid and SSI should not be cut to help balance the budget.
__________________________________________
Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about.
Just $16.99/mo. or less.
dsl.yahoo.com