* REMINDER * The Arc Action Alert - Speak Up Againt the House Budget that is Devastating for People w/ Disabilities

[Guest guest]

*Federal Spending Plan is Devastating for People with Disabilities and

Will NOT Reduce the Deficit*

Take Action!

<http://capwiz.com/thearc/issues/alert/?alertid=40802501 & queueid=6747709876>

Vote is Tomorrow - Tell your Representative to Vote NO!

Last week, House Budget Committee Chairman (R-WI) released his Fiscal

Year 2012 spending

plan<http://budget.house.gov/UploadedFiles/PathToProsperityFY2012.pdf>(known

as a budget resolution). This plan pulls the plug on people with

disabilities, seniors, students, and the middle class to pay for tax cuts

for millionaires by targeting:

*Medicaid*

Cuts $1.4 trillion over 10 years*,* reducing federal support by about 33%.

Converts it to a block grant program<http://www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=3085>

*Medicare*

Replaces Medicare with a voucher program

*Discretionary Programs*

Eliminates most federal government programs outside of health care, Social

Security, and defense over time as the cuts are so

deep.<http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view & id=3453>

*Health Care Reform*

Repeals and defunds the Affordable Care

Act<http://www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=3044>

..

*

*The $4.3 trillion from all of those cuts will be used to provide $4.2

trillion in tax cuts over 10 years*. Very little money will go towards

deficit reduction.*

*

What Would these Changes Mean for People with Disabilities?

**

***

There would be no guarantee of services. People with disabilities could be

denied:

- health insurance coverage

- home and community based services

- supportive housing

- job training

- education

- transportation

- and much, much more

Worse yet, states could return to the days where they “warehoused” people

with disabilities in *institutions* to save money. This would be cheaper

under the plan since states will no longer have to meet the quality

standards currently imposed by the Medicaid program for institutions. And

waiting lists for home and community based services would grow much longer.

*

**

What Can I Do?*

The House of Representatives will vote on the budget plan this *Friday,

April 15*. We must let them know that this plan is just plain wrong for

America. Let’s make some noise!

Please call your Representative this week. Call toll free: 1-.

If the line is busy, please enter your zip code in the “call now” box to

obtain the District Office phone number.

*

What should I Say?

*

- I am a person with a disability or parent/caregiver of a person with a

disability. (Briefly describe your situation, if you like.)

- The budget plan will take funding from people with disabilities to

pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. And it does almost nothing

to reduce the federal deficit.

- A Medicaid block grant would be devastating for me/my family member.

- Please vote against the budget proposal.

--

*Liz*

Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. - Special

Olympics Motto-RIP Eunice Kennedy Shriver

“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong

in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.-Author Unknown

" Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can

understand persistence. " - Hal Borland