Kerry at MEdicard (SFC) hearing

[TayTay]

On now.

Talking abou KidsFirst program (But not calling it taht.) Like this. Govs. forced to say how good that would be.

[Mass]

1. Who is on the panel

I cannot see the names.
Is that Mark Warner?

[TayTay]

2. Govs Huckabee and Warner

are on panel one. They are testifying to the pain of Medicaid funding and how the states are having to deal with this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=273x31316 for details

Oh, those reading glasses again ......

[Mass]

3. The Hill account of the hearings

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/061605/brief4.html

Dems criticize NGA's new Medicaid plan
By Josh Patashnik

At a Senate Finance Committee hearing yesterday, Govs. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.) unveiled a proposal aimed at giving states more flexibility in administering Medicaid.

The plan attracted immediate criticism from Democrats who said the governors' recommendations were too narrow in scope and did not address fundamental flaws in the nation's healthcare system.
....

The most contentious and partisan part of the hearing centered on what is not included in the NGA's proposal.

Led by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Democrats said that the recommendations would not fix what they see as the underlying problem - that federal and state tax cuts have dried up the revenue needed to pay for Medicaid and other health programs. Kerry touted his proposed Kids First program, which would provide healthcare to the 11 million uninsured children in America.

Kerry and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) argued that the healthcare system could be fixed for less money than President Bush proposes spending to make his 2001 tax cuts permanent.

"We wouldn't have a Medicaid problem if we didn't have the tax cuts," Rockefeller said.

...

[kerrygoddess]

4. John Kerry Leads Dems Fight to Protect Medicaid Benefits

John Kerry Leads Dems Fight to Protect Medicaid Benefits
16 June 2005


While Democratic grassroots activists are chomping at the bit for more to be said on the DSM issue, the Republicans have set an agenda in the Senate and the House and our Senators and Representatives are fighting the good fight on a host of issues including protecting Medicaid benefits…

From The Hill: Dems criticize NGA's new Medicaid plan

Led by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Democrats said that the recommendations would not fix what they see as the underlying problem - that federal and state tax cuts have dried up the revenue needed to pay for Medicaid and other health programs. Kerry touted his proposed Kids First program, which would provide healthcare to the 11 million uninsured children in America.

Kerry and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) argued that the healthcare system could be fixed for less money than President Bush proposes spending to make his 2001 tax cuts permanent.

John Kerry’s Press Office provided more on the hearing: Senator Kerry was fighting to protect Medicaid benefits for the neediest citizens today at a Senate Finance Committee hearing in the face of Republican cuts.

Senator Kerry said, “Medicaid is the crown jewel of the safety net. It is the nation’s largest health care program - providing health and long-term care services to 53 million low-income pregnant women, children, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. Medicaid serves those for whom, if the program did not exist, they would not receive care anywhere else.”

“Under the Bush economy, this program has grown more vital than ever. Medicaid costs and enrollment figures have grown because the economy’s recession has created such a demand for its services. People who once had jobs with health coverage are either losing their jobs or losing their health benefits and Medicaid is the backstop to ensure that those in greatest need are not simply added to our uninsured rolls - a figure that already stands at 45 million Americans and is a mark of shame on this great nation. Health care should be a right, not a privilege.”

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=1091

[LittleClarkie]

5. I swear

He finds a way to mention it in every damn speech. It's alittle dorky. But cute. He's on a misson I tell you.

[karynnj]

6. Also, Only people as focused on Kerry statements as people here

hear as many statements (thanks to those who post them) so while we hear it 100 times, there are some people hearing it for the first or second time.