This is unbelievable! Rethugs oppose Katrina bill for spite.

[TayTay]

Daily Health Policy Report

Medicaid | HHS Secretary Leavitt Urges Sens. Frist, Reid To Oppose Grassley-Baucus Bill Providing Temporary Medicaid Benefits to Hurricane Survivors http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=32809

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt on Tuesday in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said a bipartisan bill that would provide temporary Medicaid benefits for survivors of Hurricane Katrina should not be approved, CongressDaily reports (CongressDaily, 9/28). The bill, which was introduced on Sept. 14 by Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and ranking member Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) would have the federal government for five months pay 100% of Medicaid costs for survivors from Louisiana, Mississippi and parts of Alabama who have relocated to other states, with the option of extending the coverage for an additional five months. The federal government also would pay 100% of Medicaid costs through the end of 2006 for all beneficiaries in Louisiana, Mississippi and counties in Alabama that have been designated as disaster areas. Senators concerned about the bill's cost -- estimated to be $8.7 billion over five years -- on Monday blocked a floor vote (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/27).

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Republicans particularly object to a proposal to extend Medicaid benefits to singles without children, in part because such a proposal was part of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry’s 2004 platform. While eligibility standards vary, Medicaid is generally available only to families, pregnant women and children.

From Dow Jones article on this bill, 9/28/05

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They won't pass this bill because it is similar to what Kerry wanted in the campaign. I hope the whole lot of them get indicted and soon!

[whometense]

1. Oh my god.

It's true; they don't give a damn what anyone thinks.

[karynnj]

2. What surprises me is that Dow Jones gave that reason

To not do something good, when it obiously the right thing to do, because it was in John Kerry's platform is bizzarre. Taking his name off the Kerry/Snowe amendment to get it to pass was sick as well.

David Brooks called him Senator Ahab, obsessed with Bush. He does criticize Bush because he is the President and ... he's doing bad things. The Bush administration seems obsessed with the man they beat only though a nasty campaign, which is mystifying.

[sandnsea]

3. Spiteful SOB's

I wish they would say who gave them that tidbit, not right to know somebody is a full on jerk without naming them. Not patriotic I don't think. Right?

[rox63]

4. We heard Baucus and Grassley speak about this bill

when we visited the Senate on Monday. I thought it was great that there was true bipartisan support for this. I guess I spoke too soon. :(

[whometense]

5. Baucus is speaking about it again

right now. He sounds just disgusted.