Why is Rick Santorum so opposed to acting in the interests of Pennsylvania? Last night, Santorum voted
for $10 billion in Medicaid cuts, thumbing his nose at Governor Rendell who has said that federal Medicaid cuts would jeopardize
the state’s ability to serve the 1.7 million Pennsylvanians who rely on the program.
SANTORUM FLIP-FLOPS AND CUTS $10 BILLION FROM MEDICAID
Earlier This Week, Santorum Claimed to Fight for Better Health Care. Just days ago, Santorum wrote, “Ensuring
that all Pennsylvanians have access to quality and affordable health care remains one of my highest priorities.” He
concluded, “I am diligently working to improve the accessibility of high-quality medical care in Pennsylvania.”
[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 4/27/05]
But Last Night, Santorum Voted for Final Budget Resolution With Massive Medicaid Cuts. Last night, Santorum
voted for a budget resolution that will cut $10 billion from Medicaid over the next five years while actually increasing the
federal deficit. [Vote #114, 4/28/05]
Nearly 1.6 million Pennsylvanians Count on Medicaid. In June 2003, Medicaid provided vital health care services
for nearly 1.6 million Pennsylvanians, including nearly 786,000 children. [Kaiser Family Foundation, statehealthfacts.org,
Pennsylvania: Medicaid Enrollment]
In March, Santorum Said That Pennsylvanians Don’t Want Medicaid Cuts. Santorum said of the proposed
Medicaid cuts, “trust me… everybody that I'm hearing from in Pennsylvania doesn't even want that reduction. [CNBC,
“Kudlow and Company,” 3/8/05]
But Then Santorum Voted Against Protecting Medicaid. During initial Senate budget negotiations, Santorum
voted against a proposal to protect Medicaid from all proposed cuts. [Vote #58, 3/17/05]
Rendell urged Santorum to fight these Medicaid cuts. "If these cuts were to take effect, we will have a
very difficult time preventing the loss of health coverage for some of our most vulnerable citizens.” [Rendell Statement,
3/17/05]
AFTER NOTING THE NEED TO CUT THE FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT, SANTORUM STILL VOTED TO INCREASE THE DEFICIT BY
$168 BILLION
Earlier This Year, Santorum Claimed to Want to Cut the Deficit. In February, Santorum said that we need
to “make sure that we reduce the budget deficit in half.” [Santorum Press Conference, 2/8/05]
But Then He Voted for a Budget That Makes the Budget Deficit Worse. The budget Santorum supported will not
cut deficits in half. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Santorum-supported budget resolution will
actually increase the federal deficit by $168 billion above the Congressional Budget Office’s baseline over five years
- in other words, $168 billion worse than if we did nothing at all.
Phil Singer, Communications Director, DSCC, Apr 29, 2005
