House approves $39 billion cut to Medicaid, student loans

[quaoar]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002776714_webbudgetcuts01.html


WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday narrowly approved Congress’ first attempt in eight years to slow the growth of benefit programs like Medicaid and student loan subsidies, sending the measure to President Bush.

The bill passed by a vote of 216-214, largely along party lines. Republicans hailed the five-year, $39 billion budget-cutting bill as an important first step to restoring discipline on spending. Democrats attacked the measure as an assault on college students and Medicaid patients and said powerful Washington lobbyists had too much influence on it.

[CottonBear]

1. Perhaps this will snap the sheeple out of their stupor. n/t

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

8. Not Likely nt

[tom_paine]

34. Nothing but economic collapse and/or mass arrests would do that

And I have my doubts even about THEN, once the Bush lie Machine, the wretched and toadying remnants of the Old American Free Press had gotten thrpugh with "they got what they deserved, this is all being done Constitutionally under the rubric of National Security" bullshit, essentially the same bullshit Hitler used, but of a less acidic nature.

Finally, once the Vichy Dems are done putting up token resistance, then giving the mass detentions their approval, I suspect that the KBR detention centres will be beloved.

[leftstreet]

2. While the whole world seems to be talking about Cindy Sheehan

Once again the lack of activism on the part of we, the people has fucked us over.

[Lorien]

21. Exactly. We need to stop being distracted by smaller stories

freedom of speech on T-shirts really seem to get people going around here; there were the women thrown out of a mall for wearing anti-Bush shirts, the woman thrown off the SouthWest plane for wearing the "meet the fuckers" t-shirt, the protesters thrown out of a Bush rally for wearing anti war t-shirts, and now Cindy Sheehan. Yes, it pisses us off when we are denied our first amendment rights anywhere in the country-but the way to "fix" it is to act as activists daily on issues that we CAN affect. Sure, we could fight for the right to wear t-shirts with any slogan on them at SOTU address from now on-but isn't making certain that the people get an education and the sick get their medications MORE important?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. that's really close. means some repigs are thinking that this was

NOT a good move for their future! I can see the campaign ads now - "My opponent cut funds from students and the poor."

We can fix this after Nov 06

[Karenina]

6. Not with the voting machines

scheduled to be in service ON on Nov 6. Sorry.

[Cocoa]

20. several republicans switched their votes just since December

and one, Steve Buyer, switched against us since then. I bet there's a story there...

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/02/more_from_the_h.html

<snip>

The budget vote, which had been widely viewed as a test of Blunt's vote-counting acumen going into tomorrow's election, provided less drama than some expected. 13 GOPers voted no and two did not vote as the bill passed 216-214

Of the 13, Blunt's whip team saw only four defections from the original December vote: Rep's Simmons (CT), Sweeney (NY), Gerlach (PA) and Ramstad (MN). The first three all face serious challengers this fall and had come under much pressure to flip after a month back in their blue-tinted districts. And, for what it's worth, the latter two have endorsed Boehner for leader.

Beyond these four, Blunt also lost Rep. Walter Jones (NC), who did not vote the previous time. Jones is supporting Shadegg. But Jones' "no" was balanced out by V.A. Cmte chair Steve Buyer's no-to-yes switch from December. Buyer, btw, is supporting Boehner, but owes his chairmanship to the current leadership structure. The two who did not vote were Rep's Ernie Istook (OK) and Gary Miller (CA). Miller has endorsed Boehner while Istook, busy running for GOV, has stayed publicly neutral.

Despite having to do without these 15 members of their Conference and again facing unanimous Dem opposition, Blunt's operation won the vote with apparent ease. Indeed, Rep. Mark Foley (FL) -- not coincidentally an early and vocal Blunt backer -- gaveled down the vote just nine mintues after it was called, four more than the alloted time. As close observers of this House leadership know, four extra minutes is nothing. LoBiondo's vote put the GOP over the top and Rep. Sue Kelly (NY) made 216.

[jbnow]

30. This really confused me

because I watched the fierce House debate through the night on this in December. I thought it already passed. But the article says:

The House passed a nearly identical bill on Dec. 19, but the chamber held an unusual revote because Senate Democrats forced technical changes that the House needed to accept before the bill could be sent to Bush's desk.

I never saw the Senate debate. I didn't know they had passed it and I was hoping that the compromise with the Senate's eventual version would make it less harsh.

So some from blue states switched their votes. Hard to believe that many of these would be red/blue issues as opposed to just human issues.

I recall a lot of biblical quotes in the December debate due to the nearness of Christmas. The Dems talked about Jesus' mandate to help the needy, the republicans said Jesus said WE are to help the poor, not use other peoples money to do it.

And now...on to the tax cuts for the rich!

Bizarre.

[quaoar]

4. Here are some details of the cuts

This is also from AP:

Student loans: $12.7 billion in net savings, achieved chiefly by reducing lender subsidies and retaining a scheduled shift from variable interest rates to a 6.8 percent fixed rate on most loans. Increases loan limits to $3,500 for first-year students and from $3,500 to $4,500 for second-year students. Establishes a new $3.7 billion grant program for low-income college students studying math, science or specialty languages.

Medicare: Saves a net $6.4 billion from the health care program for the elderly. Saves $6.5 billion by increasing Medicare payments to insurers that cover sicker patients and lowering payments to those covering healthier patients. Accelerates premium increases for better-off Medicare patients for doctor visits, and increases such premiums for all Medicare beneficiaries by about $2.30 a month in 2007. Saves $2.8 billion by reducing payments for imaging services, and saves $2 billion by freezing payments to home health care providers. Provides $7 billion for doctor’s fees to avoid a 4.4 percent cut otherwise taking effect Jan. 1.

Medicaid: Saves $4.8 billion from the health care program for the poor and disabled by reducing payments for prescription drugs, tightening asset-transfer rules for nursing home eligibility, permitting states to reduce benefits and increasing co-payments paid by beneficiaries.

[CountAllVotes]

18. SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!

So much for the elderly, the disabled and the people trying to go and get a decent education! This is plain SICK! :puke:

GOD I HATE THESE PEOPLE MAKING THESE AWFUL DECISIONS!

What is this Medicare thing - if you are healthy/sick - payments are more/less? I don't quite get it YET.

:argh:

[senaca]

19. 2 billion in cuts by freezing payments to home healthcare providers

How will this effect the Hospice care program? There again this will hurt families who have made the decision to take care of parents who can no longer care for themselves. Supplemental home health care nurses are a godsend. Families with parents who need help may also have children who are in college. Make that a double whammy. The sad thing is I can envision this effecting those in the "Greatest Generation" first. They have been through the Great Depression, and they know how to scrimp and save. Add the "glitches" in the prescription drug benefit, the cost of heating homes etc. and they must have a feeling of dejavu at a time when they are most vulnerable. What scares me is that to do this in an election year means that Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security will be whittled away piecemeal budget by budget until the safety net is gone. I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

[0007]

5. We're screwed now. Had to make up for the tax cuts, eh?

[Name removed]

Deleted message

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[OKNancy]

7. My daughter works for a large student newspaper

This was front page news this morning ( the likely passage)
I know this will hurt me. We are a family caught in the cracks. Not poor enough to get grants, but too poor to afford collge without parent loans.

[brer cat]

16. It hurts us all OKNancy when students can't afford to get ahead..

..We are caught too. My daughter is a single parent working full time, a senior in college (with a 4.0 gpa), accepted in a great graduate program. BUT she must have student loans and medicaid for her daughters in order to survive.

My daughter and your child, like millions of others in college, are trying to get ahead. If successful, they will enjoy a much higher standard of living, and will repay through higher taxes far more than the small assistance from the government while they are in school. It is SO short-sited to deny these benefits.

But typical repugs...they talk the talk about education, but they sure don't walk the walk!

[Ian David]

17. Get out to those schools and get those kids registered to vote! n/t

[Vinca]

9. But, but, but - what about science and math???? George,

you weren't feeding us a pile of doodoo last night, were you??

[StoryTeller]

10. Where can I find out how my rep. voted? (nt)

[0007]

11. Try c-span.

[WindRavenX]

12. As a college student

Great, just great :eyes:

[Nutmegger]

27. Hey, same here

These sick bastards will stop at nothing. How about ending the "war" so we can finally get some money to pay for our damn books!

[rqstnnlitnmnt]

13. Roll call

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll004.xml


No dems voted for it, 13 repugs voted against it. Not much more that I could have done, my congressman is a thug criminal in bed with the dukester.

[salin]

33. Odd, that... Ney voted against it

wonder if that has to do with trying to look like voting against big interests, or about fear of reelection and not giving constituents yet another reason not to vote for him.

[wordpix2]

14. so much for the "competitive edge" we must have via our schools

[ConcernedCanuk]

15. Heck, that only "buys" them a month or two of more slaughter in Iraq

.
.
.

So far just the appropriated funds for the Iraq invasion is almost 238 BILLION dollars

That amount doesn't count treatment for the wounded, burials for the sacrificed, nor all the other "costs" that the families must endure

What a "humanitarian" nation the USA is

Cutting health care and education for their OWN citizens fur chrissake

but

how is it that I'm not surprised . . . ?

(sigh)

[usregimechange]

22. And now states will be cutting their funding as well... When will it end?

[samhsarah]

23. Filthy rotten criminals

:mad:

[usregimechange]

24. Health Care Improves Public Health and now it does so less.

and people will die but they don't give a shit.

[mvd]

25. Argh

:grr:

I'm so mad that I can hardly focus on the fact that we were unanimous or the fact that Gerlach came through on this vote.

This is reverse-Robin Hood and downright cruel.

[LynnTheDem]

26. All Stupid MFing Americans who voted for bush coz of his Medicaid Bill

...Ya got FUCKED. And we TOLD you he'd do this. He ALWAYS does this. EVERY TIME.

Then he likes to cut funding to the programs he just lauded.
http://www.literalpolitics.com/BushWeek/bush_agenda.htm

He signed corporate reform legislation, then later cut the funding...
http://quinnell.us/politics/essay/bushyear2.html

At the same time, Bush cut funding for the Justice Department’s lawsuit ...
of America – this despite six photo-op laden campaign visits to such clubs.
http://mediastudy.com/articles/AV2-28-02.html

Bush today is doing a photo-op at a children's hospital, even though he tried to
cut funding for children's hospitals...
http://www.davidsirota.com/blogarchive/2004_05_23_davidsirota_archive.html

WAKE UP AMERICA.

[usregimechange]

28. Kick

[usregimechange]

29. Roll Call, notice not one single Dem voted for them...

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll004.xml

[deadparrot]

31. Way to go, assholes.

:thumbsup:

[Breeze54]

32. Isn't the whole HOUSE up for re-election in 2006? WooHoo!!!

House Budget Substantially Alters Medicaid, Welfare, Child Support
http://freeinternetpress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5740
Posted on Wednesday, February 01 2006 21:11:11 PST
by Intellpuke
The House yesterday narrowly approved a contentious budget-cutting package that would
save nearly $40 billion over five years by imposing substantial changes on programs
including Medicaid, welfare, child support and student lending.
With its presidential signature all but assured, the bill represents the first effort in
nearly a decade to try to slow the growth of entitlement programs,
one that will be felt by millions of Americans.
Women on welfare are likely to face longer hours of work, education or community service
to qualify for their checks. Recipients of Medicaid can expect to face higher co-payments
and deductibles, especially on expensive prescription drugs and emergency room visits for
non-emergency care. More affluent seniors will find it far more difficult to qualify
for Medicaid-covered nursing care. College students could face higher interest rates
when their banks get squeezed by the federal government. And some cotton farmers will find
support payments nicked. State-led efforts to force deadbeat parents to pay their child
support may also have to be curtailed.

Thirteen Republicans joined 200 Democrats and one independent in voting against the measure.
All Republican House members from Maryland and Virginia voted for the measure,
while all Democrats voted against it.
Democrats blasted the White House and Republicans for allowing states to reduce Medicaid coverage
and boost fees for Medicaid programs for the poor and disabled at the same time

the president is calling for making permanent tax cuts for wealthy Americans.

[SoCalDem]

35. Parents in your 50's... Pay attention!

Investigate how you can "sell" your house to your grown kids (if you trust them).. If the home is in their names way ahead of a time when you might need to go to a care facility,you would be a tenant by that time.. I would advise seeing a lawyer so that the transfer is legal and to minimize tax issues. BUT the loss of your home would be more expensive. I don;t know too many kids who would throw a parent out of their home, and most parents would like to see that home they worked for all those years, to go to their children after they are gone.

If your house is paid off, you are not getting a mortgage deduction of any consequence anyway iff you are not haing much withheld in the way of taxes, and your kids probably NEED more deductions. You used to be able to give each kid 11K a year tax free..I wonder it that could be equity in your homw, and still qualify..

Protect your home NOW..before you get sick.. We never know when something could happen to us.

[usregimechange]

36. Kick