John Kerry Leads Dems Fight to Protect Medicaid Benefits

[kerrygoddess]

John Kerry Leads Dems Fight to Protect Medicaid Benefits
16 June 2005


While Democratic grassroots activists are chomping at the bit for more to be said on the DSM issue, the Republicans have set an agenda in the Senate and the House and our Senators and Representatives are fighting the good fight on a host of issues including protecting Medicaid benefits…

From The Hill: Dems criticize NGA's new Medicaid plan

Led by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Democrats said that the recommendations would not fix what they see as the underlying problem - that federal and state tax cuts have dried up the revenue needed to pay for Medicaid and other health programs. Kerry touted his proposed Kids First program, which would provide healthcare to the 11 million uninsured children in America.

Kerry and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) argued that the healthcare system could be fixed for less money than President Bush proposes spending to make his 2001 tax cuts permanent.

John Kerry’s Press Office provided more on the hearing: Senator Kerry was fighting to protect Medicaid benefits for the neediest citizens today at a Senate Finance Committee hearing in the face of Republican cuts.

Senator Kerry said, “Medicaid is the crown jewel of the safety net. It is the nation’s largest health care program - providing health and long-term care services to 53 million low-income pregnant women, children, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. Medicaid serves those for whom, if the program did not exist, they would not receive care anywhere else.”

“Under the Bush economy, this program has grown more vital than ever. Medicaid costs and enrollment figures have grown because the economy’s recession has created such a demand for its services. People who once had jobs with health coverage are either losing their jobs or losing their health benefits and Medicaid is the backstop to ensure that those in greatest need are not simply added to our uninsured rolls - a figure that already stands at 45 million Americans and is a mark of shame on this great nation. Health care should be a right, not a privilege.”

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=1091

[Mass]

1. The two governors who were there were all for cutting taxes

rather than helping making Medicaid solid.

[bvar22]

2. John Kerry says:

Bush* and the Republicans are stealing
the Childrens' Doctor money and
giving it to their BILLIONAIRE friends!

[checks-n-balances]

3. Thank you, Senator Kerry, this is so important and this needs attention!

I hope the moderates & true conservativews will get behind him!

[second edition]

4. He seems to be everywhere lately. What a hard working guy!

I just don't understand how some people resent everything he does. He is "damned if he does and damned if he doesn't". I glad to see that he takes it all in stride and continues to do what he thinks is best.