April 29, 2005
News & Information Bulletin
Update on FY 2006 Budget Process
The Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Resolution is a recipe for disaster for people with disabilities and the final vote was completely partisan��not one Democrat voted for it and 13 Republican House members and three Republican Senators voted in opposition. Unfortunately, the Budget Resolution narrowly passed the Senate (52-47) and the House (214-211) last night. This was a truly tumultuous week � beginning with the appointment of House budget conferees and a floor vote on the Democrats �Motion to Instruct� Budget Resolution Conferees to agree with the Senate Budget Resolution on Medicaid, and ending with late night negotiations and a final vote. Tuesday�s Action on the Motion to Instruct
On Tuesday, the House leadership quickly appointed its Budget conferees (two Republicans and one Democrat). When the floor debate began, House Democrats responded quickly by introducing a �Motion to Instruct� calling for striking cuts to Medicaid and asking for a bipartisan Commission to study Medicaid reform. While these motions are usually voted down when introduced by a minority party, this motion surprisingly passed by a vote of 348-72 � a true victory and symbolic disapproval of the Medicaid cuts. This vote, unfortunately, was only symbolic because Medicaid cuts remained in the Budget Resolution. Thursday�s Budget Vote � Program Impact
Under the Budget Resolution, the Senate and House authorizing committees are instructed to reduce spending on mandatory (entitlement) programs by $34.7 billion over the next five years, from fiscal year 2006 � 2010. Included is $10 billion in proposed cuts to Medicaid, starting in FY 2007. As for other entitlement program, like SSI, TANF, Title XX Social Services, Foster Care and Adoption Assistance and others, significant cuts are possible as well. Domestic discretionary cuts could be $212 billion over five years. This budget also makes room for substantial tax cuts that primarily benefit wealthy households. Aside from the proposed cuts, budget negotiators agreed to a Medicaid Commission (also referred to as a federal advisory panel) that would study Medicaid and report to the Congress and the Administration in September 2005 about reforming the program. This year will truly test Congress�s resolve for limiting entitlement and domestic discretionary spending in light of the increasing demand for public services. The Budget Battle is Far From Over
Throughout the remainder of the year, we will see how attacks on disability programs play out. The Senate and House will start the annual appropriations and the reconciliation processes where the actual spending decisions are made. Disability advocates must now intensify their outreach to Congress and urge them to reduce or eliminate most of the proposed cuts. The targets for our advocacy efforts will be the following: Entitlement Spending
- House Energy & Commerce Committee (jurisdiction over Medicaid) � the committee must adopt $14.7 billion in cuts.
- House Ways & Means Committee (jurisdiction over SSI, Medicare, etc.) � the committee must adopt $1 billion in cuts.
- Senate Finance Committee (jurisdiction over Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, and other important programs) � the committee must adopt $10 billion in cuts.
- HUD housing
- Special Education
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Supported Employment
- Assistive Technology
Next Steps
No further details on the extent of the program cuts is available since the final Budget Resolution is only a blueprint and does not spell out how the Senate and House authorizing committees must achieve the requested cuts. Once the committees begin working on the appropriations and reconciliation bills, the bills must go through conference committee votes, floor votes and the president�s signature before their enactment. The Arc and UCP Disability Policy Collaboration will work to ensure that the programs and service important to people with disabilities and their family remain at the forefront of this budget debate. We also will provide our expertise and influence at all levels in this process. Thank you again for responding to our Action Alerts and taking the time to contact your elected officials on our behalf and on behalf of people with disabilities and their families. Your advocacy efforts a truly appreciated and I am confident that our voices are truly effective. To Unsubscribe: You may unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time by visiting here <http://capwiz.com/thearc/lmx/u/?jobid=55043848> .
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