H.R. 5613

Democratic congressional candidate Jennifer DoughertySixth Congressional District candidate Jennifer Dougherty (D-Frederick) slammed Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Frederick) for his opposition to H.R. 5613, the Medicaid Safety Net Act, which passed in the House of Representatives 349-62 on Wednesday.

The legislation will impose moratoria through April 1, 2009, on the implementation of seven rules issued by the Bush administration that would have reduced federal payments for rehabilitative, outpatient and administrative services offered by Medicaid by more than $15 billion over the next five years, according to a recent report by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The specific effect that the proposal would have had on Maryland was not specified in the report.

"It's a disgraceful and insulting vote to ignore the needs of Marylanders in these tough economic times," Dougherty said in a statement. "Bartlett supports making tax cuts for the wealthiest permanent, but thumbs his nose at people who truly need help. He is out of touch and shows poor judgment with votes like this."