Urgent Action: Tell Congress the House 2012 Budget Proposal Hurts PWDs

From AAPD (4.14.11):

Urgent Action: Tell Congress the House 2012 Budget Proposal Hurts PWDs

The proposed House 2012 Budget slashes numerous services for people with disabilities and will be voted on THIS FRIDAY. 

Take Action!  Contact your Congressman today and tell them to vote no on the Ryan Budget Proposal

Call toll free: 1-866-922-4970 or Dial 202-224-3121 (TTY 202-225-1904) and ask for your Representative’s office.

What is at stake:

Medicaid - The proposed plan shifts the cost of Medicaid to low-income consumers, including people with disabilities, and cuts the program by a third over the next 10 years.  The proposed plan converts Medicaid to a block grant which will cap funding regardless of health care cost inflation over time. 

>>> For More on how the proposed Medicaid Block Grants will hurt PWDS 

Medicare - The proposed plan eliminates the current Medicare structure and transforms the program into a voucher system.  It shifts the cost of services to the beneficiaries, almost doubling amount that individuals pay out of pocket for their ongoing health care.

>>> For More from the Congressional Budget Office on the effect on Medicare

Progress Made in Health Reform - The proposed plan repeals and defunds the Affordable Care Act (ACA) including programs that are vital for people with disabilities.  For example, the CLASS Program and and the Community First Choice Option are two ACA provisions targeted at expanding home and community based options for people with disabilities.

>>> For More on the ACA provisions for PWDs that are at risk

Call toll free: 1-866-922-4970 or Dial 202-224-3121 (TTY 202-225-1904) and ask for your Representative’s office.

What Should You Say?

• I am a constituent with a disability or parent/caregiver of a person with a disability.  (Briefly describe your situation, if you like.)
• The Ryan budget plan will take funding from programs that are critical to people with disabilities and will hurt me and/or my family.
• Please vote against the Ryan budget proposal.

 

Comments

[Robert Crumley]

You are going to cut benefits to people that worked 55 years of their life paid into the system, now have disability's, paralyzed, and confined to a Wheel Chair,and YOU yet Illegal Immigrants come into our country hourly and everything is being handed to them on a silver plate, so STOP giving them benefits, the government would save Thousands of Dollars monthly.

[Jack Pearce-Droge]

I am a person with a disability.  I am fortunate in that I am employed. My son has developmental disabilities. He is benefiting from a sheltered employment program and he lives at home. Our son has benefited from outstanding special education programs throughout his life but I am sorry to say that those educational services are very poor at this time and the same holds true for children in general.
The Ryan budget plan will take funding from programs that are critical to people with disabilities and will hurt me and/or my family. Money to fill the gaps left in our budget could stem from businesses who do not pay the level of taxes that they need to pay or to curb military spending by bringing the soldiers home so that we might begin to deal with the terrible situation that we have here at home. We cannot solve the problems of the world when our own are so demanding.

Please vote against the Ryan budget proposal.

[Jo Ann Grossman]

I am a Physically Challenged 63 year old female. I am married, but believe that all people are created equal, whether they've a disability or not. Until the ADA Bill there was no law to protect and treat us as people or other minorities are treated.
To vote YES for the Ryan Bill would be a travesty. Voting no would help us ALL.
Doesn't the Consitution not have any meaning-- OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE

[Dorsha M Turpin]

I take care of my daughter and the Ryan Bill will take things away from my daughter and how will she get the help that she needs, because I am now unemployed.

[Alinda Wasner]

We care for elderly parents who are intheir nineties and whose pensions have been drastically cut. One has altzheimers, the other has macular degeneration. Without Medicaid they will live out their days in extreme poverty without access to adequate care after having worked all their lives to support their family and children and having PAID into their pension programs for more than 40 years. EVERYONE will ultimately experience a disability including all members of Congress. This bill would have them eventually shoot themselves in the foot. Is that what they really want? Please consider having some compassion for "the least of these" instead of for the wealthy. We do NOT want a voucher system!