News Release: Republican Legislative Leadership Attacks Over 750,000 Arkansans

NEWS RELEASE

Republican Legislative Leadership Attacks Over 750,000 Arkansans

Minority Leader John Burris Takes Extremist Position on Medicaid

(LITTLE ROCK) Republican Minority Leader John Burris attacked over 750,000 Arkansans last night, admitting that Republicans don’t care about the elderly or Arkansas families who rely on Medicaid.

In a post on Twitter, Republican John Burris said, “Romney was spot on. Very poor do have safety net. Don’t believe it? Come look at our state’s Medicaid budget. Billions…”

“Which Arkansas child or senior would Burris want to take off Medicaid?” Candace Martin, communications director for the Democratic Party of Arkansas asked. “Over 750,000 Arkansans rely on Medicaid to ensure their family can lead a healthy life. For Burris to criticize Arkansans for wanting to keep their family healthy is disgraceful.”

Over 750,000 Arkansans are on Medicaid, and of those, 45 percent are disabled, 25 percent are seniors and 25 percent are children. Over 100,000 Arkansas children have received health coverage through ARKids First, the state’s CHIP/Children’s Health Insurance Program, since it was established under Governor Huckabee’s administration.  Currently, there are about 70,000 Arkansas children served by the program.

“John Burris wants to blame children and disabled Arkansans, saying they are taking advantage of a ‘safety net’ built for them,” Martin said. “As a state legislator and the leader of Republicans serving in the state house, it’s frightening to think that Republicans have taken such an extreme position.”

For more information regarding Medicaid facts, use: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?sub=47&rgn=5&cat=4 and http://www.nashp.org/sites/default/files/CHIP_State_Map/Arkansas.pdf

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