Oregon Watchdog: Republicans urge Chairs to prioritize spending, spare seniors' budget cuts

OREGON HOUSE REPUBLICANS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 13, 2009
CONTACT: Nick Smith, 503-986-1351

HOUSE REPUBLICANS URGE CO-CHAIRS TO PRIORITIZE SPENDING, SPARE SENIORS'i PROGRAMS FROM BUDGET CUTS
Programs Face Potential Cuts in Current, Future State Budgets

SALEM'o In a letter sent to the Co-Chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee, House Republicans urged budget writers to prioritize spending and reverse the Governor'is proposed cuts to health care programs that serve senior citizens. Republican members also asked the Co-Chairs to spare these programs as the Legislature re-balances the 2007-09 budget.

If the Co-Chairs adopt the Governor'is recommendations in the 2009-11 budget, approximately 6,590 seniors will lose access to in-home care services.

`iIndependence and home care are essential and economical components of life for healthy seniors,^i the House Republican members wrote. `iMany of these individuals may necessitate expensive long-term care if their daily services are removed. In the long run, this would be a greater expense than maintaining the current program.^i

Republicans also oppose cuts to a second program that, if eliminated, would lower income standards to reduce the number of people in care by applying for Congressionally-approved `ii^i waivers under the Social Security Act. If this change took place, income eligibility would decrease from 300 percent of SSI to 200 percent of SSI.

`iOf the current 28,000 individuals currently served, about 4,000 exceed the 200% of SSI requirement and would lose both their long term care and eligibility for the Oregon Health Plan,^i the Republicans wrote.

The members urged the Co-Chairs to prioritize spending and protect senior health care programs during the budget crisis.

`iWe urge you to protect a very important group in our society, our senior citizens, by supporting at least two of these programs at their current funding levels in both the 2007-09 and 2009-11 budgets,^i Republicans wrote. `iBy maintaining funding and care for this vulnerable group of people, they will remain protected during these dark economic times.^i
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