Senate leaves coal in seniors’ stockings

The Senate has voted to approve a reconciliation budget bill sent by the Conference Committee.  The bill cuts programs that assist seniors, the poor, and the middle class.  Among other things, the bill extends the Medicaid look back period to 5 years.  It also eliminates  energy assistance funding for low income individuals–a program that greatly benefits  fixed-income seniors who need special protection from heating costs when prices rise drastically, as they are expected to this winter.

Due to a procedural glitch, thought, the bill can’t become law because it contained minor differences from that approved by the House earlier this week.  The House won’t be able to vote on this budget until it reconvenes in January.

For the full text of this  Republican-supported legislation, visit http://www.rules.house.gov/109/text/s1932cr/109s1932_text.pdf.

For more information on the elimination of energy assistance, visit the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

To register your disapproval of this bugdet bill, contact your Congresspersons now.  They may be on vacation, but their email boxes are still open!