Action Alert: Attend a Public Meeting and Tell Senator Grassley to Protect Medicaid
Iowa Citizen Action Network
Attend an Open Public Meeting and Tell Sen. Grassley to protect Medicaid from $45
billion cuts proposed in [George W.] Bush's budget. Sen. Grassley has
scheduled numerous community meetings this week. Check the list of
locations at the end of this post to see which meeting you can
attend! If you are unable to attend one of there forums, please call or
write Sen. Grassley to make your voice heard and help save Medicaid.
As Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Grassley is one of the most important elected officials who can defend Medicaid from $45 billion in cuts
proposed by Bush. These proposed program cuts are a direct result of the tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans.
SEN. GRASSLEY NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU while he is in Iowa this week and
before the House and Senate propose their own budgets on March 7.
Tell him that cuts to Medicaid will be devastating to your family, your
community, and the state of Iowa.
Below
are some talking points to help you make your case and a list of public
meetings. The most important thing for Sen. Grassley to hear is
that Medicaid is a lifeline and that those who participate have no
other options if services are cut. And as always, send us an
e-mail telling us you attended the meeting or made a phone call.
Contact
Matt Russell, Iowa Citizen Action Network's health care organizer at
(515) 277-2077 to learn more and to get more
involved in this campaign. Additional information is available at
ICAN.
Talking Points
1. For Medicaid participants: Medicaid is important to me and my family because…(tell your story – how does Medicaid improve your family’s well being and what hardships would result if services were lost)
2. For providers, professionals, and local officials: Medicaid is important to my community, my hospital, my clients because…(give concrete examples)
“Cuts in Medicaid shift costs to providers, to people with private insurance, to other programs, and to Iowa’s most vulnerable populations: seniors, children, people with disabilities.”
3. Bush has proposed a budget that would take more than $380 million of Medicaid funding from Iowa over the next 10 years. These cuts will hurt me, my family, my hospital, my community, etc.
4. Iowa is already struggling to pay the current state share of Medicaid costs. $380 million dollars of additional federal cuts over the next 10 years will devastate Iowa’s state budget. It’s going to make it that much harder for the state to provide necessary health care to our most vulnerable Iowans: children, seniors, people with disabilities.
5. Mr.
Grassley you’re going to have a lot of influence in securing the
funding for Medicaid because of your leadership role in the Senate
Finance Committee. We’re relying on you to protect Iowans who
rely on Medicaid for vital health care services.
We have many crucial opportunities to speak with Sen. Grassley in person during the
week of Feb. 21 when he is in Iowa. If you are unable to attend
any of the following, it is important that you call or write Sen.
Grassley in Washington:
Sen. Chuck Grassley
135 Hart Senate Bldg., Washington, DC 20510-1501
Ph. 202-224-3744
or click here to send an e-mail
SENATOR GRASSLEY’S OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS THIS WEEK
Wednesday February 23
7:30-8:30am
Jasper County Town Meeting
Jasper County Courthouse
Multipurpose Room
Basement
101 1st Street North
Newton
9:30-10:30am
Marshall County Town Meeting
Marshall County Courthouse
3rd Floor
Meeting Room 1
1 East Main Street
Marshalltown
4:15-5:15pm
Wapello County Town Meeting
Ottumwa City Hall
City Council Chambers
105 East 3rd Street
Ottumwa
Thursday February 24
7:30-8:30am
Davis County Town Meeting
Mutchler Community Center
900 East North Street
Bloomfield
9:30-10:30am
Van Buren County Town Meeting
Village Cup and Cakes
Meeting Room
202 Main Street
Keosauqua
11:45am-12:45pm
Jefferson County Town Meeting
Jefferson County Courthouse
3rd Floor Conference Room
51 East Briggs Avenue
Fairfield
1:30-2:30pm
Henry County Town Meeting
Henry County Courthouse
Law Library
2nd floor
100 East Washington Street
Mount Pleasant
3:45-4:45pm
Lee County Town Meeting
Fort Madison City Hall
City Council Chambers
811 Avenue E
Fort Madison
Friday February 25
7:30-8:30am
Des Moines County Town Meeting
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington Campus (Southwest Corner of Campus) Building 400, Room 406
1500 West Agency Road
West Burlington
9:30-10:30am
Louisa County Town Meeting
Louisa County Courthouse
Courtroom
2nd Floor
117 South Main Street
Wapello
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