Heads up on proposed Medicaid cuts
Kendall Corbett
Coordinator of Consumer Activities
Wyoming INstitute for Disabilities - WIND
1000 E. University Avenue
Dept. 4298
Laramie, WY 82071
(307) 766-2853
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Brenda Oswald [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 8:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; Carla Weisbeck; Jeff Graham; John Harper; Jamie Staunton; Sue Williams; Tim Ernst; Tricia Mason; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; Kenneth Bruce Heinlein; Kendall David Corbett; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: Fwd: Fw: [NACgrassroots] URGENT! CALL YOUR SENATORS TODAY TOVOTE AGAINST MEDICAID CUTS
I just received this information this morning. Please take a moment to contact Senators Enzi and Thomas.
Brenda
Brenda Oswald, Executive Director
Governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities
122 W. 25th St., Herschler One West
Cheyenne, WY 82002
307-777-7332
307-777-5690 (FAX)
>>> "Ruth Sommers" <[log in to unmask]> 3/14/2005 8:36:05 AM >>>
URGENT! CALL YOUR SENATORS TODAY TO VOTE AGAINST MEDICAID CUTSFolks - This looks pretty serious now. PLEASE take a few minutes to call Senators Enzi and Thomas on this!!! We need LOTS of calls from Wyoming. If not us, who???
This is a DIRECT reduction to benefits to folks with disabilities, and could mean reduction in their SSI payments. Not only is this going on, Congress is also considering cuts to food stamps to offset some of the reductions the President wants to make to farm support programs. Another onslaught on the poor.
Now let me think - one of the significant factors of the big depression was unequal distribution of wealth...
Help!
Ruth
----- Original Message -----
From: Catherine Dunkelberger
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 5:00 AM
Subject: [NACgrassroots] URGENT! CALL YOUR SENATORS TODAY TO VOTE AGAINST MEDICAID CUTS
EXTREMELY URGENT! CRITICAL VOTE ON MEDICAID CUTS Take Action!
Telephone Your Senators Today!
***ANCOR MEDICAID ALERT***
The budget debate over Medicaid is reaching a critical stage. The Senate will vote THIS WEEK on its budget resolution (S Con Res 18) that calls for Medicaid cuts over 5 years. These cuts are twice the amount proposed by the Administration. An amendment to eliminate these cuts will also be introduced. Your help is needed more than ever!!
A vote on this amendment, the Smith-Bingaman amendment, could take place as early as Tuesday. It may not take place until Wednesday or Thursday, so you may still have time to place your calls.
Both the Senate and House Budget Committees have voted on and passed their respective budget resolutions. Both resolutions contain deep and harmful cuts to Medicaid. Both budget committees have inserted even DEEPER cuts than the Administration asked for. Congress will be in recess for two weeks beginning March 21.
When they return, the House and Senate will go to conference to resolve differences in their resolutions and then each chamber will vote on a budget resolution. We must ensure that the Senate version contains no cuts.
The first step to minimize the Medicaid cuts in the federal budget process rests with the Senate this week. Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) will introduce a bipartisan amendment that will come to the Senate floor for a vote either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. This amendment to the Senate's version of the 2006 budget resolution would:
1. Eliminate the Medicaid cuts from the Senate's Budget Resolution.
2. Create a 23 person Bipartisan Medicaid Commission to make recommendations to Congress.
3. Authorize roughly $1.5 million to fund the Commission's work.
THE SMITH - BINGAMAN AMENDMENT could be introduced as early as Tuesday. This is THE Medicaid vote of our times. We need all ANCOR members, family members and direct support professionals to contact their Senators TODAY!
TAKE ACTION NOW!!
TELEPHONE BOTH YOUR SENATORS!
MESSAGE: VOTE FOR THE SMITH-BINGAMAN AMENDMENT to strike the Medicaid cuts from the budget resolution!
If you telephone and cannot get through, then please use the sample letter alert to send an email. After you call your Senators, then contact your Governor. Ask your Governor to contact your two Senators and support the Smith-Bingaman amendment that will strike the Medicaid cuts from the budget resolution.
To find your Senator's phone number,
click here or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Identify which Senator's office you wish to speak with. You can also use a toll free number to telephone your Senators - 1-800-828-0498. This line goes directly to the Capitol switchboard, but may often be busy. After you call your first Senator, hang up the phone, please dial again and call your other Senator.
MORE ACTION STEPS:
1. ANCOR will be receiving new information daily on this issue but we cannot distribute alerts quickly enough. Please check ANCOR's
Medicaid One Stop to read about the latest developments on the budget resolutions.
2. HELP SPREAD THE WORD!
Please send this alert to a friend or neighbor or any interested person. Click on Tell a Friend (see below) to send this alert by email.
3. Congress will be in recess for two weeks beginning March 21. Contact the district (local) offices of your Senators and Representatives and arrange an appointment during the recess. Ask to speak with the scheduler to schedule the appointment. Now is the time to have multiple providers, individuals and families schedule a meeting.
Carry the message that Medicaid is a successful program and does not deserve to be cut in order to reduce the federal deficit. This will only shift health care costs to the states, to Medicaid beneficiaries and to providers. Tell them your personal stories! Tell them about the real people you support.
4. During the March 21 recess, attend town hall meetings and forums. Write op-eds and letters to the editor of your local newspapers. Go to ANCOR's Medicaid One Stop to see sample letters.
Senate Moderates Hold Key to Medicaid Budget Votes
It is important to reach all 100 Senators. However the following Senators hold key votes in this battle. They already support the Bipartisan Commission and need a way to show this support while voting against Medicaid cuts. It is essential that these Senators hear from you:
McCain (AZ) Snowe (ME)
Collins (ME) Coleman (MN)
Hagel (NE) DeWine (OH)
Voinovich (OH) Santorum (PA)
Spector (PA) Chafee (RI)
Graham (SC)
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