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FRIST CONDEMNS DEMOCRAT BUDGET STUNTS
Point of Order Votes Endanger Katrina Relief, Federal Welfare Programs
December 21, 2005 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Bob Stevenson (202) 224-4445
December 21, 2005 Amy Call (202) 224-1865
FRIST CONDEMNS DEMOCRAT BUDGET STUNTS
Point of Order Votes Endanger Katrina Relief, Federal Welfare Programs
WASHINGTON, DC – Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) today made the following statement on Senate Democrats’ efforts to slow the deficit reduction conference report from going to the president's desk:
"The Democratic leadership’s insistence on scoring cheap political points at the expense of vital federal programs reflects both a lack of principle and vision."
Failure to pass the Deficit Reduction Act without amendments include the following:
· The federal welfare program, commonly referred to as TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) expires. As a result, welfare families and the working poor would see their cash payments and child care assistance evaporate.
· Two billion dollars in federal aid for medical assistance to Katrina victims (Katrina Medicaid) would be denied.
· Medicare physicians serving the elderly would receive a 4.4% ($7.3 billion) cut in Medicare reimbursements; such a cut is expected to drive good doctors out of the Medicare program.
· Transitional Medical assistance for families who have worked their way off welfare would be eliminated.
· Therapy caps go into effect which means seniors who have suffered strokes or other debilitating injuries may not be able to get the therapy they need to regain an active lifestyle.
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05-474
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