[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6473-6474]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1210
                     ALL THE CARDS ARE ON THE TABLE

  (Ms. EDWARDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, all the cards are on the table, and the 
Republicans want to reduce Medicaid to a mere block grant program and 
drastically alter the Federal-State partnership that has been struck 
for over 45 years.
  The GOP budget argues that under a block grant program, ``States will 
no longer be shackled by federally determined program requirements.'' 
Sounds

[[Page 6474]]

 nice, right? But, Mr. Speaker, what they really mean is that States 
will no longer have to meet standards that ensure quality, delivery of 
service, and eligibility.
  The GOP budget argues that block grants will improve health care 
safety for seniors and low-income families. Again, sounds right, Mr. 
Speaker, sounds wonderful. But they fail to conveniently mention that 
the States would be required to spend below projected growth, forcing 
State governments to make up the difference by increasing spending. 
Again, that's a fat chance in this environment.
  And so what they really want to do is to cap enrollment, cut 
eligibility, limit mandatory benefits, and lower provider 
reimbursement. Our doctors, our seniors, and our low-income families 
deserve so much better.

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