House Republicans Balk at Size of Medicaid Cuts

[steve2470]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB4768KJ7E.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush's budget centerpiece to squeeze billions of dollars from spending on health care for the poor ran into jeopardy Thursday as 44 House Republicans signed a letter protesting the cuts.

The lawmakers said reducing Medicaid spending over the next five years by up to $20 billion as approved last month by the House "will negatively impact people who depend on the program and the providers who deliver health care to them."

The cuts would amount to about a 1 percentage point reduction from Medicaid's projected 7 percent-plus growth over the next several years. By law, benefit programs grow automatically to keep pace with factors such as inflation and ever-rising numbers of beneficiaries.

The lawmakers sent the letter to Rep. Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, chairman of the House Budget Committee. Bush in February proposed $8.5 billion in Medicaid cuts. GOP leaders in the House and Senate proposed making the cuts bigger to pay for new tax cut initiatives. The Senate, however, rejected any cuts in Medicaid spending.

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[NashVegas]

1. Gee, Too Bad Y'all Signed Away $290 Billion in Estate Taxes Yesterday

pricks

[AlCzervik]

3. exactly! And if they get thrown out on their collective asses

in 06 they have no one to blame but themselves, that goes for the house dems that voted for that picec of crap yesterday too.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. All of them...

Who vote for these abominations, no matter what party, should have their votes hung around their necks for perpetuity. The word "Yea" tattooed on their foreheads like an indelible scarlet letter. No indignity is too great.

[goodboy]

2. just wait till' delay gets a hold of them...he'll bring them around...

besides why should we care about the poor? It's not like jesus said we should.

[coloradodem2005]

4. Has Hell frozen over?

I never thought Republicans would balk at something like that.