December 22, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S 19185 letter urges him to hold firm to our vulnerable populations. Tonight there Robb; J. James Exon; Howell Heflin; commitment to basic health care for will be a child within a few blocks from Claiborne Pell; ; Daniel children, pregnant women, the elderly, this building who will need the help of P. Moynihan; Sam Nunn; Robert C. and the disabled in this country. This a caring health care professional, and Byrd. letter supports a per capita cap ap- Medicaid will pay for the care. Mr. FEINGOLD addressed the Chair. proach to finding savings in the Medic- Marion Wright Edelman uses a The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- aid Program. phrase that sums up what we are talk- ator from . Mr. FEINGOLD. Thank you, Mr. Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- ing about when it comes to Medicaid President. sent to have that letter printed in the and children, ‘‘protection of last re- f RECORD at the end of my statement. sort.’’ We have to guarantee that pro- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there tection. It is a moral commitment, and HEALTH CARE objection? Without objection, it is so it is within our grasp. We can balance Mr. FEINGOLD. Let me first of all ordered. the budget but we can do it without express my appreciation to the Senator (See exhibit 1) giving in to mindless partisanship and from and the Senator Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, this we can do it without sacrificing our from West Virginia who just spoke letter shows unity and it demonstrates basic commitments. about the advertisement that I also support for President Clinton in his ne- EXHIBIT 1 saw this morning with regard to Mrs. gotiations on this vital matter. As you U.S. SENATE, Clinton and her health care financing heard the eloquent Senator from West Washington DC, December 13, 1995. proposals as opposed to those of the Virginia describe yesterday, sometimes President WILLIAM J. CLINTON, leadership in the Congress of this ses- we have to look beyond partisanship The , sion. and do what needs doing as Americans. Washington, DC. To suggest that the President’s pro- As you heard our respected colleague DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: We are writing to ex- press our strong support for the Medicaid posal last year was in any way the say, we need to look beyond partisan- same in terms of cuts to Medicare and ship, toward compromise if we want to per-capita cap structure in your seven-year budget. We have fought against Medicaid Medicaid is truly absurd. In fact, I succeed in creating a balanced budget. block grants and cuts in the Senate, and we want to emphasize that one of the very This letter is partisan in that it is are glad you acknowledge the importance of significant things that the President’s signed by all Democrats. But it is my our position. plan would have done is provide for the feeling that as Americans every Mem- We support a balanced budget. We are glad first time a national home- and com- ber of the Senate should have an oppor- you agree with us that we can balance the munity-based long-term care program, tunity to endorse the position de- budget without undermining the health of to help people stay in the community, children, pregnant women, the disabled, and scribed in this document. As Ameri- and I think save the country a lot of cans we all must do our very best for the elderly. The savings level of $54 billion over seven money in both the Medicare and Medic- our children in this Nation, and that is years included in your budget will require aid budget. what this letter is about. rigorous efficiencies and economies in the To suggest that somehow Mrs. Clin- As the Senators from Nebraska and program. However, after consulting with ton’s proposal was in any way, shape or North Dakota discussed yesterday with many Medicaid Directors and service provid- form like what we are seeing today the release of the Senate Democratic ers across the country, we believe a reduc- with the slash-and-burn approach to budget, we can balance the budget in 7 tion of this level is possible to achieve with- Medicaid and Medicare is, to me, very years using the most conservative CBO out dramatic limits on eligibility or cuts to unfortunate and very distorting and, estimates without hurting our chil- essential services. States will need flexibil- ity to achieve these savings, and you have again, suggests that there is no limit dren. taken steps toward granting it in your bill. in reference to the actual facts in these This letter I hold in my hand reflects We were encouraged that your Medicaid situations. just one part of that commitment. I do proposal does not pit Medicaid populations I don’t know how the American peo- not think my colleagues across the against one another in a fight over a limited ple are supposed to know who to be- aisle are advocating the block grants pot of federal resources. lieve. That is the comment I get most so that we will intentionally hurt chil- We were further encouraged to hear Chief often now at home. ‘‘Who do you be- dren in this country. I will simply tell of Staff Panetta relay your commitment to lieve?’’ And when you are willing to you the reaction of people at the State any budget not containing a fundamen- tal guarantee to Medicaid for eligible Ameri- put an ad on the television that sug- and local level who actually provide cans. gests that a program that was proposed Medicaid services to children is over- We commend you on the courage you have by the President last year is essen- whelmingly negative. exercised in making these commitments to tially the same as the Medicare and They can see from the grassroots Americans eligible for Medicaid. There is a Medicaid cuts proposed today, I just level what it will mean to design a bottom line when it comes to people’s get the feeling that people will not Medicaid program, and they do not health; do not allow the current Congres- have any idea who is telling the truth want drastic funding cuts, and they do sional leadership to further reduce our com- in Washington. I think we all suffer be- not want a block grant, because it fun- mitment to Medicaid beneficiaries. Your current proposal is fair and reason- cause of that. damentally will not work. able, and is consistent with what we have ad- f Groups representing almost every vocated on the Senate floor. We urge you in CONFEREES HAVE FAILED TO decisionmaker and provider in this the strongest possible terms to hold fast to country have come out against the these commitments in further negotiations. PROTECT FREE SPEECH RIGHTS Medicaid block grant proposal. The We are prepared to offer any assistance you OF INTERNET USERS Conference of Mayors, the National As- may need in this regard. Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, on sociation of County Officials, the Na- Sincerely, another matter, 2 weeks ago I came to tional Conference of State Legisla- ; John Breaux; Jay Rocke- the Senate floor to urge my colleagues feller; ; ; who are telecommunications conferees tures, the Democratic Governors Asso- Frank R. Lautenberg; ; ciation, the American Hospital Asso- ; Patty Murray; Barbara not to adopt potentially unconstitu- ciation, and most other medical pro- Boxer; David Pryor; Barbara A. Mikul- tional legislation in our efforts to pro- vider organizations, and all child advo- ski; Max Baucus; Paul Simon; Kent tect children on the Internet. I was cacy groups, all have rallied in opposi- Conrad; Wendell Ford; Harry Reid; concerned about the substantial tion to this bad idea. ; Richard H. Bryan; Er- chilling effect this legislation would I heard yesterday from Mayor Norm nest Hollings; ; Tom have on constitutionally protected Rice of Seattle and the Mayors Asso- Harkin; Byron L. Dorgan; ; speech. The media had just reported re- ciation, who are sending a letter of J. Bennett Johnston; Joe Lieberman; cently an online service provider’s cen- ; Carol Mosely-Braun; their own to the President. The block John Glenn; Jeff Bingaman; Carl sorship of the word ‘‘breast’’ because it grant has been condemned by anyone Levin; Bill Bradley; John F. Kerry; Bob was vulgar, supposedly, despite the fact who has thought about how it will af- Kerrey; ; Daniel K. Akaka; that that term merely refers to a part fect this country’s children and other Dale Bumpers; Daniel Inouye; Chuck of the anatomy.