[Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Fw: UCP Washington Wire -- Week of October 18, 2011

Tue Oct 18 22:15:19 UTC 2011

UCP Washington Wire -- Week of October 18, 2011    
----- Original Message ----- 
From: United Cerebral Palsy 
To: carlos.montas at gmail.com 
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 10:01 AM
Subject: UCP Washington Wire -- Week of October 18, 2011

  UCP Washington Wire 

  October 18, 2011

  Greetings! See below for the latest updates from the Hill this past week.

  SUPER COMMITTEE NEWS and UPDATES

  Democrat Members and Governors Lobby Super Committee

  Last week, Democratic members of Congress submitted written proposals that urged the Super Committee to save Medicare and Medicaid and asked the Committee members to let the Affordable Care Act work. Democratic governors met last week with Super Committee members and with White House staffers with hopes of seeing what work is actually getting done. Click here to read more about last week's super committee developments.

  Secrecy Flanks Members of Super Committee

  Members of the public are starting to get antsy while waiting for answers from the Super Committee. While it has been widely reported that the committee is working mostly in secret on its budget slashing recommendations due by November 23, most people in Congress have come to the agreement that the committee is doing too much work behind closed doors. Click here to read more from the New York Times and the Associated Press.

  Republicans Release Recommendations to Super Committee

  Last Friday, Finance Committee Republicans submitted their own recommendations to the Super Committee. The recommendations outlined challenges to Medicare, Medicaid, and other welfare programs as well as taxation and the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The report also outlines changes to Social Security and the need for the modernization of Medicaid by changing eligibility determinations and implementing fiscal responsibility by giving states defined budgets. Click here to view the letter to the Joint Committee Co-Chairs and the complete recommendations from Finance Committee Republicans.

  CURRENT NEWS and UPDATES

  Major Developments on CLASS Act

  The fight over implementing the CLASS Act has heated up over the last few days and is a long way from being over. On Friday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to several members of Congress saying she, “did not see a viable path forward for CLASS implementation at this time” only to have news come out yesterday afternoon that the White House does not support a formal repeal of the Act. Read an article here on the latest developments.

  In an effort to raise awareness about CLASS, yesterday, Advance CLASS, Inc. and LeadingAge held a policy forum and panel on the issue. The panel included former actuary at the Office of CLASS, Bob Yee, Judy Feder from Georgetown University, Gretchen Alkema of The SCAN Foundation, and Connie Garner from Advance CLASS. The forum represented the first time Bob Yee spoke publicly, and it was the public's first chance to ask questions about the Affordable Care Act program.

  National Call-In Effort on CLASS This Week 

  With the stakes high, Advance CLASS will be holding a nationwide call-in this week to support the CLASS Act. For more information, visit http://www.advanceclass.org.

  STATE CHECK-UP

  New York Governor Wants to Reform Agencies that Serve People with Disabilities

  Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York and his administration have started to deal with the problems of abuse and neglect of people with disabilities at state-run institutions. According to the New York Times, on Wednesday, Governor Cuomo vowed reforms at six agencies that provide residential care for the disabled, the elderly, children, and the mentally ill. The New York Times has previously reported on problems that have occurred throughout the state. Click here to read more.

  ON THE HORIZON

  Senate HELP Committee to Hold Executive Session on Reauthorization of ESEA

  The Senate HELP Committee will be holding an executive session on a bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The session will take place on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 2:30pm. It will be held in 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Click here to learn more about the reauthorization of ESEA.

  HHS, Administration for Children and Families to Hold Call

  The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities will hold an open meeting via conference call. The meeting will take place on Friday, October 28, 2011 from 1-2:30pm EST. For more information, please click here.

  For more information on this UCP Washington Wire contact: Connie Garner, CGarner at ucp.org.
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