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PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THREATENED BY TAX CUTS: IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED!

As of noon yesterday, the response to action alerts on the Federal Budget Resolution have been abysmally low.The full Senate is already debating this Budget Resolution and critical amendments will be voted on today and throughout the week, with a final vote expected early next week. The House is scheduled to take up the bill today or Thursday and will likely finish it this week. It is imperative that we do all we can to generate emails and calls throughout our grassroots connections to get the communication flowing to the U.S. Capitol.The future is really at stake and we desperately need to have our voices heard. It is critical to defeat, or at least significantly reduce, the tax cuts proposed by President Bush. (See background information below)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19TH - NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY

Call Senators to oppose tax cuts. The toll free number (paid for by the ALF-CIO) for calls to the Senate offices: 1-888-280-6279

You can also email your Senators and Representatives: USE THE ARC'S ACTION CENTER -http://capwiz.com/thearc/home

Send an email directly to your Senators and Representatives

REMEMBER THAT EVERY OFFICE COUNTS EVERY PHONE CALL AND EMAIL!

We can make a difference!

URGE YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO:

OPPOSE the Bush Administration's tax cuts
OPPOSE any cuts to Medicaid and any other human services program.
Vote to SUPPORT amendments to provide state fiscal relief, including one that would increase the federal matching rate in Medicaid (FMAP)

BACKGROUND

The United States House and Senate are debating this week and preparing for a vote on budget resolutions. Once both houses of Congress agree to a single resolution, it will provide the basic parameters for the federal budget for next year (beginning October 1, 2003). This will have a dramatic impact on all programs for people

with disabilities, from entitlement programs like Medicaid and Medicare to discretionary programs like IDEA, housing, assistive technology, and others.President Bush's "economic growth" plan, a central feature in the development of the House and Senate joint budget resolutions, includes a tax cat that will benefit primarily wealthy people and provide almost no relief for others. In fact, 31% of the nation's taxpayers would get no benefit from the Bush economic stimulus package and almost half would receive less than $100 in tax cuts. The Administration's overall tax package revenue reductions would leave our government $2 trillion poorer after 10 years. This will create massive deficits and put disability programs at grave risk of significant cuts. As it now stands in both the House and the Senate, the budget proposals contain:

Tax cuts that will further exacerbate the budget deficit and devastate spending for programs for people with disabilities for years.
Requirements for massive cuts in domestic programs including Medicaid
NO OTHER FISCAL RELIEF FOR STATES, including no provision for an increase in the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP)

To understand the impact, here is what might happen to Medicaid under the House budget proposal. It requires reductions in Medicaid and all other mandatory programs except Social Security and military retirement.The reductions are calculated proportionally, requiring each Committee to find the cuts in the programs they oversee. If the Committees spread the cuts proportionally across their programs, then Medicaid must be cut by $93 billion over 10 years.

The impact of this proposal is even more devastating because states are experiencing their worst fiscal crisis since World War II. By the end of this fiscal year, 49 states will have cut Medicaid this year and 32 states will have cut Medicaid twice. Cuts mean that people lose Medicaid coverage or access to absolutely essential services like:

home and community based services, physical and other therapies,
dental and vision services, and prescription drugs.It also means that the direct care worker crisis will get worse.

As a short-term, stopgap measure, it is important for people with disabilities that the budget resolution call for a temporary increase in the federal share of Medicaid (known as the "FMAP").

SAMPLE EMAIL MESSAGE

Dear Member of Congress:

The tax cuts in the Budget Resolution are irresponsible and will cause massive cuts in Medicaid and other critical programs for people with disabilities and their families. In our state, we are already living in fear of drastic cuts due to Medicaid budget deficits.

The Budget Resolution will force my state to make even more cuts in benefits and services that people need. Medicaid works.It is a lifeline for people with disabilities. Home and community based services, prescription drugs, physical and other therapies, and vision and dental care are fundamental to keeping people healthy and happy.

Oppose tax cuts, protect vital human services, and support amendments to provide state fiscal relief that will provide more funds for Medicaid. People with disabilities are counting on you to ensure these vital services. Please do not let us down.

The Arc of Virginia

2025 E. Main Street, Suite 120

Richmond VA 23223

(804) 649-8481