Rockefeller Votes To Protect Jobs Of Teachers And Public Safety Workers, And Extend Vital Medicaid Safety Net

Statement

Senator Jay Rockefeller issued the following statement after an amendment passed in the Senate that will protect the jobs of teachers and public safety workers, as well as provide critical Medicaid funding assistance to hard-pressed states.

"I am so happy that with today's vote we are one step closer to extending our investment in Medicaid -- keeping vulnerable people healthy whether they be newborns, seniors, or hard-working families, and protecting public safety employees and teachers," said Rockefeller. "Medicaid relief makes a real significant difference in stabilizing our economy, stabilizing state budgets, and bringing peace of mind to so many West Virginia working families. We must remember the people the program benefits -- children, seniors in nursing homes, and pregnant women who need prenatal care. The need for Medicaid coverage grows during times of economic uncertainty, and it is very good news that the extension succeeded.

"Not only will this vote preserve our Medicaid safety-net, but it will also make sure that tens of thousands of our teachers can get back into our West Virginia classrooms in a matter of weeks, and that our firefighters and police officers can stay on the job. Today, Congress came together to do the right thing for millions of people -- and that is a very good thing."

Key Background Information

· The amendment includes many revenue-raising provisions that would have offset the costs of the job-saving measures. The CBO concluded that the amendment will save 140,000 teachers' jobs nationwide and tens of thousands of first responders' jobs and will reduce the budget deficit by $1.4 billion over the next decade.

· The legislation will now be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

· Senate Amendment 4567 to H.R. 1586 provides $10 billion to the Education Jobs Fund to avert the layoff of hundreds of thousands of public school teachers as students return to school in the coming months.

· It also extends the temporary increase in Medicaid stimulus funding -- or FMAP -- for six months through June 2011, providing critical assistance to states to help them maintain their Medicaid programs during a period of high enrollment growth and reduced state revenue. Rockefeller was the original author of the enhanced Medicaid funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and also authored S.3000 -- a six-month enhanced FMAP extension through June 2011. Today's extension is based on Rockefeller's original work.

· The amendment includes a revenue-raising provision similar to those included in the President's Budget, including proposals to close international tax loopholes that currently allow multinational corporations to inappropriately lower their U.S. taxes.

· Medicaid provides essential health care coverage for 390,000 West Virginians each year. Medicaid also pays nearly 20 percent of the total cost of West Virginia's health care system and supports an estimated 19,800 jobs in the state. According to estimates from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, West Virginia stands to gain an additional $81 million in federal Medicaid funds as a result of this vote.

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