Forwarded by the Joliet Diocese Legislative Advocacy Network on behalf of the USCCB.

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Action ALERT

House of Representatives to take up Budget Resolution

April 26, 2005

 

 Why You are Receiving this ALERT:  The House of Representatives is going to appoint its Budget Conferees today.  Then between 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm (EDT) the House will debate a motion to instruct the conferees with votes scheduled for 6:30 pm.  

The motion to instruct will direct conferees to remove the reductions and the reconciliation instructions targeted at Medicaid in the House resolution, and, in their place, to create a bipartisan Medicaid Commission in the final conference agreement for the FY06 Budget.

 USCCB Position: The substantial cuts called for in the House budget resolution could have disastrous consequences for the millions of low-income pregnant, women, children, elderly and people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid for their health care, as well as the health care providers who serve them.  Policy changes to Medicaid should be made only following a review of the program to consider what changes are needed to ensure Medicaid’s efficiency and effectiveness, not to meet preset budget reduction goals.  The final budget resolution should instead provide funding for the creation of a bipartisan commission to conduct a comprehensive review before any dramatic changes are made to the program. ACTION:  Please call your Representative(s) NOW and urge them to support the motion to instruct—to support the motion to create a bipartisan Medicaid Commission.