Reps. Miller, Vagnozzi, Meisner, Bieda, Angerer, Condino, Hopgood, Kathleen Law, Lipsey, Accavitti, Kolb, Plakas, Cheeks, Adamini, Anderson, Ball, Bennett, Brown, Byrnes, Byrum, Caul, Clack, Clemente, Cushingberry, Farrah, Gaffney, Gleason, Hildenbrand, Kehrl, Lemmons, III, Lemmons, Jr., Mayes, McConico, McDowell, Mortimer, Pearce, Polidori, Proos, Sak, Sheltrown, Alma Smith, Spade, Stahl, Taub, Tobocman, Waters, Wojno and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 60.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress and the President of the United States to refrain from making cuts to Medicaid.

            Whereas, Congress is presently debating proposed cuts to the Medicaid budget. These reductions would seriously threaten services available to our most vulnerable populations, including children from low-income families, the disabled, and the elderly poor.  According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Michigan alone could lose between $411 million and $552 million between 2006 and 2010; and

            Whereas, Cuts to Medicaid would jeopardize the financial situations in state capitals across the country.  As a unique, state-federal partnership, Medicaid spending represents a large portion of the budgets of many states, including Michigan.  The impact of this program in providing a safety net for people in need is profound.  Through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant program, Food Stamps, and health services for the poor, Medicaid helps millions of Americans, especially the very young and the very old, who find themselves in dire straits; and

            Whereas, Michigan has gone to great lengths to maintain protections for our vulnerable men, women, and children.  With deeper cuts in Medicaid, few options would be available to address the severe problems facing some of our fellow citizens; and

            Whereas, Medicaid represents an investment in our people.  As has been said many times, how a society deals with the frail and the vulnerable reflects on the society's priorities and values.  Even in difficult financial times, caring for the needy and having programs in place to help them gain self-sufficiency whenever possible makes our country stronger; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress and the President of the United States to refrain from making cuts to Medicaid; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the President, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.