Wilson's vote against hospitals & children outrageous

ORANGEBURG, SC-----Today, Blaine Lotz criticized Joe Wilson’s vote against The
Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008. The candidate for the 2nd
Congressional District argued, “ This is exactly the type of vote that proves
Wilson is out of touch with people in our district. People are losing jobs,
paying astronomical gas prices and can’t afford decent health-care. Yet he votes
against a bill that provides health-care to children. Even Governor Mark
Sanford, a member of his own party, supported this legislation.”

The Protecting Medicaid Safety Net Act extends benefits to Veterans, Katrina
Recovery and the Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act until 2009, according to
the non-partisan Congressional Research Service. The bill extends the moratorium
on eliminating and changing the aid to local states.

“Medicaid accounts for one of the largest expenses for state governments. Mr.
Wilson voted against hospitals in and state child welfare agencies. He wanted to
redefine the Federal-State partnership in that the entire burden would shift to
the state. During these hard economic times, Joe Wilson wants the state, every
county and city in the 2nd Congressional District to bear the entire cost of
these federal programs”, explained Lotz.

According to The Energy and Commerce Committee report, the failure of this bill
would have

• Limited state Medicaid payments to public hospitals, thereby limiting federal
matching payments
• Barred compensation from state child welfare agencies that provide Medicaid
services
• Limited Medicaid payments to hospitals and nursing homes that service Medicaid
patients

In conclusion Lotz stated, “ Fortunately for the people of South Carolina and
the nation, this legislation passed the US House of Representatives by a vote of
349-62. Can you imagine how devastating this could have been to the hospitals in
Lexington, Orangeburg and Richland counties? It would have crippled them. Where
is the compassionate conservatism we have heard during Wilson’s terms in
Congress? When our state needs him most Joe Wilson, votes against children,
against veterans, against the 2nd Congressional District and against South
Carolina. Blindly following George Bush is not leadership and the people of our
district deserve better."