Jeff Bingaman: “let me just say about all of the talk about how this formula is sort of inviolate and we don't want Congress to in any…”

“let me just say about all of the talk about how this formula is sort of inviolate and we don't want Congress to in any way change it, the underlying bill says it doesn't apply to Alaska. We are just writing into this bill there is going to be no cut in Alaska regardless of what the formula says. So all I am saying is let's at least do something to lessen the extent of the burden we are putting on these other 30 States that I am talking about. I don't think that is too much of a change. The underlying bill also changes the formula with regard to Katrina victims, which is appropriate, 100 percent Federal matching funds for Katrina victims under Medicaid. I think that is entirely appropriate. We have changed this formula five or six times in the last few years. It would be appropriate to do this again. I think it is the right thing to do. It will not only help our States, but it will help the people our States are trying to serve through the Medicaid Program. We have a great many in New Mexico. We have over 400,000 people in our State who depend upon Medicaid. It is absolutely essential that the State have the resources, including Federal resources, to provide the services, to continue to provide the services for the children and the adults who are eligible under that Medicaid Program. So I believe this is good legislation. This is a good amendment. I hear that the offset would be an extra burden on the States.…”