E-Notes
March 16, 2005

Action Alert for Connecticut Citizens:  
Call Your U.S. Senators and Representative

48 HOURS FROM NOW, IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO SAVE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE
PROGRAMS YOU CARE ABOUT

Make your calls immediately!

This action alert is available in PDF format for easy reprinting and
distribution at
http://www.ctkidslink.org/media/announcements/fed05actionalert03.pdf

Why? Congress is voting on a federal budget resolution this week and the
Senate is voting on key amendments today (Wednesday).  The proposed
Resolutions of the House and Senate Budget Committees both call for Medicaid
cuts that are TWICE those proposed by the President.  They also propose a
13%-14% cut in federal funding (by 2010) for domestic, non-entitlement
programs, including education and job training, community development,
health care for veterans, medical research, child care, housing,
transportation and environmental protection.  For example, federal funding
for education and training would be cut by 13%-14% and federal funding for
natural resources and environmental programs by 21%-22%, under these
Resolutions.

Call Senators Dodd and Lieberman and say, "The proposed budget is bad for
Connecticut's residents, Connecticut's environment and Connecticut's
future."

Ask Senators Dodd and Lieberman to vote NO on the proposed Budget Resolution
and to vote YES on:

*   The bi-partisan Smith/Bingaman amendment (also referred to as S.338) (to
strip out cuts to Medicaid and instead create a bipartisan commission to
recommend changes to manage Medicaid effectively);
*   The bi-partisan Feingold/Chafee Amendment (to re-institute a strong "Pay
As You Go Rule" which would require 60 votes for any action that increases
the deficit, whether by increasing spending or tax cuts.  We cannot afford
new tax cuts that are not offset by other revenue increases.)

Senator Chris Dodd: (202) 224-2823 or Toll-free in CT 1-(800) 334-5341
Senator Joseph Lieberman:  (202) 224-4041 or Toll-free in CT 1-(800)
225-5605


Action Steps for the U.S. House of Representatives:

The U.S. House Budget Committee's budget resolution also makes deep cuts to
programs that affect Connecticut residents.  It includes "reconciliation
directions" to the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $20 billion over 5
years.  Between $15 and $20 billion is expected to come from Medicaid.  It
also includes reconciliation directions to the Ways and Means Committee to
cut $18.7 billion.  Depending on how these cuts are allocated, it could
result in: less access to health care and an increase in uninsured families,
loss of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for many families, less access
to child care for working parents, children in foster care and adoption with
fewer resources, and fewer resources available to collect child support for
children who rely on it.

Call your U.S. Representative and say, "The proposed budget is bad for
Connecticut's residents, Connecticut's environment and Connecticut's future.
"

Ask your Representative to vote NO on the proposed Budget Resolution and to
vote YES on:

*  H.R. 985 (to establish a bipartisan commission on Medicaid) and;
*  Any amendment that re-institutes a strong "Pay As You Go Rule."

Please ask your Representative to speak on the House floor to oppose cuts to
programs affecting CT's children and families.

Rep. John Larson:  (202) 225-2265 or  (860) 278-8888
Rep. Rob Simmons:  (202) 225-2076 or  (860)-886-0139
Rep. Christopher Shays:  (202) 225-5541 or  (203) 579-5870
Rep. Nancy Johnson: (202) 225-4476 or  (860) 223-8412
Rep. Rosa DeLauro:  (202) 225-3661 or  (203)-562-3718

*For more information on how the proposed federal budget will affect
Connecticut please see the Voices analysis of the House and Senate Budget
Committee proposals:
http://www.ctkidslink.org/pub_detail_218.html

Also, see our other federal briefs and fact sheets:
http://www.ctkidslink.org/pub_issue_42.html

Again, this action alert is available in PDF format for easy reprinting and
distribution at
http://www.ctkidslink.org/media/announcements/fed05actionalert03.pdf
(or see the Voices home page at www.ctkidslink.org)
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