March 10,2005

Baucus and Rockefeller Applaud Senate Budget Committee's Opposition to Undermining Medicaid and Shifting Additional Costs to States

Sense of Senate Underscores Importance of Medicaid

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) After the Senate Budget Committee today agreed to an amendment
underscoring the importance of Medicaid and opposing reconciliation instructions that would
undermine or cap Medicaid, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Ranking Member of the Senate
Finance Committee, and Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chair of the Democratic
Working Group on Medicaid and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee’s
Subcommittee on Health Care, issued the following statement:
“Cuts and spending caps would deal a devastating blow to the Medicaid program, which
provides coverage for our nation’s most vulnerable citizens – pregnant women, children, our
seniors, and people with disabilities – and supports the doctors, hospitals, and nursing homes that
comprise our health care safety-net.
“We applaud the leadership demonstrated by Senators Corzine, Wyden, Murray and
Conrad in their support for this amendment to underscore Medicaid's importance to members of
the Senate. We are also heartened by its bipartisan acceptance. It is clear that the Senate
Republican leadership also recognizes the detrimental effect the President’s budget cuts would
have on states and their Medicaid programs.
“Today’s vote gives us hope that Republicans will work with us to pass a stronger
Medicaid amendment to the budget resolution on the Senate floor next week. Together, we will
do everything possible to preserve and strengthen this vital program.”
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(WASHINGTON, D.C.) After the Senate Budget Committee today agreed to an amendmentunderscoring the importance of Medicaid and opposing reconciliation instructions that wouldundermine or cap Medicaid, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Ranking Member of the SenateFinance Committee, and Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chair of the DemocraticWorking Group on Medicaid and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee’sSubcommittee on Health Care, issued the following statement:

“Cuts and spending caps would deal a devastating blow to the Medicaid program, whichprovides coverage for our nation’s most vulnerable citizens – pregnant women, children, ourseniors, and people with disabilities – and supports the doctors, hospitals, and nursing homes thatcomprise our health care safety-net.

“We applaud the leadership demonstrated by Senators Corzine, Wyden, Murray andConrad in their support for this amendment to underscore Medicaid's importance to members ofthe Senate. We are also heartened by its bipartisan acceptance. It is clear that the SenateRepublican leadership also recognizes the detrimental effect the President’s budget cuts wouldhave on states and their Medicaid programs.

“Today’s vote gives us hope that Republicans will work with us to pass a strongerMedicaid amendment to the budget resolution on the Senate floor next week. Together, we willdo everything possible to preserve and strengthen this vital program.”

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