Budget Cuts Hit the Poor

What a surprise! Congress has now passed a package of budget cuts which it claims will help rein in domestic spending. Naturally it has all sorts of implications for the most needy members of our society. All of those implications are bad. Here though is a different take on the legislation. Because the bill includes a requirement that someone has to present a passport or birth certificate in order to get the benefits it has consequences beyond those intended. The intention, and the budget savings announced, is to stop use of Medicaid by illegal aliens or others who not entitled to receive the benefit. But, as the research here shows: Survey Indicates Budget Reconciliation Bill Jeopardizes Medicaid Coverage for 3 to 5 Million U.S. Citizens, 1/26/06 there are plenty of bona fide Americans who will also get their benefits cut becasue they do not have identification. And guess what? Those affected most are in the poor minority group of society.

Well done Congress! Another bash at the poor so we can save those rich people tax cuts!