Little People of America National Conference
June 30 - July 6, 2012
Dallas Texas.

When Congress passed the “Debt Ceiling Bill” and President Obama signed it into law, they created a “Super Committee of 12” responsible for reducing the deficit by at least $1.5 trillion through 2021. This could have terrible outcomes for many of our brothers and sisters in the Independent Living community.

The Super Committee of 12 is a Joint Select Committee (House and Senate) comprised of six Democrats and six Republicans. The party leadership has appointed the members of the committee which is responsible for producing a new bill by November 23 and the House and Senate must vote on this bill (with no amendments) by December 23.

If the committee does not achieve a goal of at least $1.2 trillion in cuts or their work is not enacted by January 15, 2012, then the “triggers” would be implemented and spending would automatically be reduced by $1.2 trillion over nine years. The Senate leadership vows that part of this committee’s work must be to discuss revenues and ensure that tax increases be part of the solutions. Many believe that this committee will propose cuts and / or policy changes to the entire “Entitlement Program,” consisting of Social Security – Medicare and Medicaid.

You Can Make a Difference – by doing fours things:

1. Visit your representatives. Visit your congressional representative and both senators while they are home.  Attend their Town Hall meetings and let your voice be heard. Call their local offices and leave a message: “Please do NOT let the Committee of 12 destroy Medicare or Medicaid funding.  This would be devastating to me and my community!”

2. Send letters and make calls to your representatives’ home district offices and DC Offices
Online: Find a senator or representative in your state and click on their contact form to submit your letter.

By Phone: Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senators’ and / or representative’s office, or use the links above to find their direct phone number. Once connected, ask to speak with an office aide who handles budget and finance and / or healthcare issues. Give your name and identify yourself as a constituent.  Tell the aide: “Please tell Senator / Representative [NAME] that I do not want [him / her] to support the repeal of Entitlement Programs  or the funding of Medicare and Medicaid.”

3. Tell Your Story by outreach to the media, including your local radio and television news channels.  Write Op-Eds for the local newspapers!  Tell them how important Medicaid benefits are to you and to sustaining your livelihood. Let the public know what Independent Living means and that this funding is an important part of your freedom to live and work in your community.

4. Then get your family, friends, co-workers and other community members to take action as well!

A Center for Independent Living, individual Medicaid beneficiaries and providers sued in federal court, asserting that California is violating a provision of federal Medicaid law by cutting payments to providers.  Advocates have been shocked by a friend-of-the court brief filed by the United States Solicitor General on behalf of the Obama Administration, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to find that Medicaid beneficiaries, advocates and providers have no right to sue.  According to the brief, Medicaid enforcement can only be done by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.   

The arguments, while focusing on the particular section of law involved, could spill over and affect private enforcement of other Medicaid Act provisions.  These arguments could affect the enforcement of Olmstead at the state level.  It is beyond belief that this administration would take this position—one that slams the court house doors shut on low-income people, women and children, people with disabilities and seniors.

State budget cuts to Medicaid threaten the health and sometimes the very lives of Medicaid beneficiaries.  Access to the courts may be the best way, and often the only way, to protect our lives and defend our freedom.  The Administration needs to hear from us.  Please take a moment to let them know you are outraged by the Administration’s position in this case.  Your voices need to be heard as loudly as the voices of the states that want the “flexibility” to ignore our rights.

Please click on the "Take Action" link and send a message to Administration officials, urging them to withdraw this brief and support the right of private individuals, providers and advocacy organizations to sue states in federal court to enforce federal Medicaid law.  TAKE ACTION NOW!