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Senate Vote Expected Today, Thursday March 17, 2005

Please call your senators (toll-free, 1-800-247-2971**) and urge them to vote "YES" on the Baucus amendment to strike the $2.8 billion/5 years reconciliation instruction to the Senate Agriculture Committee.

The Baucus Amendment to strike the $2.8 billion/5 years "reconciliation instruction" to the Senate Agriculture Committee was offered and debated around 11:00am this morning. Voting on amendments begins at 1:30pm EST -- watch live on C-SPAN 2.

The reconciliation instruction that passed the Senate Budget Committee would require the Senate Agriculture Committee to find $2.8 billion over 5 years in program savings from the Ag Committee programs (conservation, food/nutrition, and commodities). The House version currently requires the House Agriculture Committee to find $5.3 billion/5 years in program savings. Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) is the lead sponsor of the amendment.

Please feel free to contact us with questions or feedback: evollinger@frac.org or eteller@frac.org

Other Amendments

Also today, votes are expected on two other key amendments that we have been working: the Carper amendment to impose restraint on unfettered, unpaid-for tax cuts; and on the Smith-Bingaman amendment to eliminate the Medicaid cuts in the budget resolution.

Carper Amendment

With the Feingold amendment to reinstate a balanced "pay-go" rule having narrowly failed on Wednesday, the Carper amendment is our last opportunity to impose restraint on unfettered, unpaid-for tax cuts. Domestic programs will continue to be slashed unless Congress restores some discipline to the federal budget process. The first step is to stop the practice of abusing the reconciliation process to make deficits worse through unpaid-for tax cuts. The Carper amendment would do just that.

Smith-Bingaman Amendment

An amendment will be offered by Senators Smith and Bingaman that will strike the reconciliation instruction to Finance as well as the underlying assumptions of Medicaid cuts. In its place, it puts in a small reserve fund for the Smith/Bingaman Medicaid Commission.

** Please note: The American Friends Service Committee has once again generously made available their toll-free 800 number for calls on Thursday! The toll-free 800 number is: 1-800-247-2971. We appreciate your alerting your networks!

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