June 29 Letters to the Editor

6/28/10 - From the Bangor Daily News

Stimulate, don’t stifle

We strongly agree with the BDN’s June 14 editorial, “Keep Recovery Going,” which called for extending funding for the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, or FMAP, the federal funds states receive for Medicaid.

The increased assistance for FMAP was originally included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which passed with the support of Maine’s congressional delegation in 2009. Unfortunately, this essential funding is scheduled to expire unless the Senate votes to extend it. They failed to do so twice last week, with both Sens. Collins and Snowe voting against the extension.

Maine is one of 30 states counting on the extension having planned budgets around it, and stands to lose $85 million. Without this extension, Maine will again be forced to cut essential public services further, meaning working families will continue to struggle. Failure to extend enhanced federal Medicaid assistance will create a gaping hole in Maine’s budget, after being slashed by $300 million earlier this year, putting vital health care services and jobs in jeopardy.

Given that the program was designed to create and save jobs in a volatile economy, we call on our senators to represent their constituents who are struggling to make ends meet and vote for the FMAP extension. We appreciate their past support and ask that they continue to support this funding. They should be voting to stimulate the economy, not stifle it. The bottom line is a loss of jobs and services to lower-income families and increased financial burden on an already strapped state government.

Joseph P. Ditré

Executive Director

Consumers for Affordable Health Care

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/147263.html