In a letter dated October 4th, Senator Daschle noted that he is grateful for Senator Collins's determination to "help states cope with their severe fiscal crisis. This relief would aid the growing number of Medicaid-eligible state residents whose access to health care is essential to helping them through these difficult financial times."
Senator Daschle told Senator Collins that he was "proud that the Senate overwhelmingly agreed, by a vote of 75 to 24," to her amendment.
"Medicaid is the fastest growing component of state budgets," said Senator Collins. "While state revenues were stagnant or declined in many states last year, Medicaid costs increased by 11 percent. This year, they are increasing by an additional 13.4 percent. We need to take action now to help states by targeting resources where they are most needed - for health care and social services. I am grateful for Senator Daschle's strong support for my plan."
Senator Collins and Ben Nelson (D-NE) introduced the first bipartisan fiscal relief legislation earlier this year. More recently, Senator Collins, Senator Nelson, Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV), and Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) joined forces on a compromise fiscal relief measure that passed the Senate by a vote of 75 to 24 this past July. The Collins/Rockefeller/Nelson/Smith legislation would increase the federal government's share of each state's Medicaid costs and provide block grants to states to assist vulnerable populations through the current period of fiscal crisis due to the downturn in the economy and decreasing state revenues.