**Carter Courier**

http://carter.house.gov

August 02, 2007 Volume 5, Issue 12

***[LETTER FROM THE CONGRESSMAN]{.underline}***

Dear Friends,

It has been a busy two weeks in Congress as we have continued to debate
annual spending bills that will fund the federal government in the
coming fiscal year. Unfortunately, many of these bills far exceed the
President's request by billions of dollars and risk being vetoed. It is
important that Congress refrain from the desire to spend more taxpayer
money without taking responsibility for its future impacts.

Other than annual spending bills, my conservative colleagues and I
fought vigorously to oppose the Democrats' plans to slash Medicare
funding in favor or their universal healthcare plan. I discuss this
debate further inside the newsletter. Upon completion of this week's
legislative business, Congress will begin the August recess and district
work period. I look forward to visiting with many of you in the district
and the opportunity to serve you better.

As always, I thank all of you in the 31st District for the opportunity
to serve you in Congress and look forward to spending the next few weeks
back home in Central Texas.

> Until next week, 

***[SUPPORT SENIORS OR CHILDREN:]{.underline}***

***[A FALSE CHOICE]{.underline}***

This week in Washington there was a lot going on. Buried amongst
appropriation bills, energy bills and the farm bill, there was a very
important piece of legislation that will affect many seniors in Central
Texas. Democrats passed a bill that dramatically expands the State
Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by allowing families who
make up to \$82,000 a year, four times the poverty level, to qualify for
taxpayer-funded healthcare.

In order to pay for this drastic increase in government funding,
Democrats have chosen to slash the highly successful Medicare Advantage
program and provide free healthcare to millions of illegal immigrants
across the country.

The Medicare Advantage plans are health plan options that are part of
the Medicare program. They are available in many areas including Texas
and may cover more services and have lower out-of-pocket costs than the
original Medicare plan. Currently there are over 3 million seniors in
America who are enrolled in this plan, including 16,000 in Central
Texas.

According to press reports, this bill cuts Medicare Advantage by \$157
billion-resulting in higher co-pays, loss in specific healthcare
benefits, less quality and choice of programs, and fewer choices among
doctors. And this bill goes even further to cut Medicare plans
including:

• Medicare cuts of \$6.5 billion to skilled nursing facilities.

• Medicare Part B cuts for senior by \$9.6 billion, including payments
for oxygen and brachytherapy.

• Medicare cuts of \$3.6 billion to the end-stage renal disease program
for seniors.

• Medicare cuts of \$7.5 billion to home health and more cuts to
end-stage renal pro grams.

And that's not all. Not only does the Democrat SCHIP bill make drastic
cuts to the Medicare Advantage plan, it also uses taxpayer money to
provide health benefits for illegal aliens by eliminating the
requirement that persons applying for such benefits provide proof of
citizenship or nationality. I have long fought for meaningful
immigration reform that closes our borders and enforces existing laws
and in no way believe we should reward those who illegally come into
America by giving them benefits that should be reserved for citizens.
This legislation isn't a solution to the problem. If anything, this bill
undermines our border security efforts and imposes a tax increase on
legal, hard-working Central Texans.

In 1996, the Republican-led Congress passed the Illegal immigration
Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act to limit federal benefits to
those who are lawfully in the United States. This Democrat bill rolls
back these reforms by dolling out billions of dollars to states who then
have the option of whether or not to verify that a person is an American
citizen before providing taxpayer-funded health benefits like Medicaid
and SCHIP.

I want to make it clear that I believe that every child deserves access
to affordable healthcare, and that there is nothing more important than
the well-being and the future of our children. But I don't believe that
Congress should cut successful Medicare programs and provide free
healthcare to illegal immigrants. That is why I voted for a Republican
alternative bill to reauthorize the SCHIP program and provide states
with the resources they need to be able to continue to provide
healthcare coverage for children. Our alternative would protect seniors
from Medicare Advantage cuts and leave in place the requirement for
proof of citizenship from to receive benefits.

Unfortunately, all my Democratic colleagues delivered and voted for was
a bill that works against seniors, working families and taxpayers \--
something I cannot and will not support.

***[DEMOCRAT LEADER ADMITS SUCCESS IN IRAQ]{.underline}***

***[COULD BE FAILURE FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY]{.underline}***

This week I made the following statement after House Majority Whip James
Clyburn (D-S.C.) said that if General David Petraeus' September report
were to paint a positive picture about the progress in Iraq, it would be
"a real problem for us." Clyburn then went on to lament that a strongly
positive report by Petraeus "likely would split Democrats in the House
and impede his party's efforts to press for a timetable to end the war."

"When I hear my colleagues make statements to the press like this, I
have to wonder, what are their intentions with our generals and soldiers
on the ground in Iraq? Republicans have fought tooth and nail to provide
time and support to our American troops, and Democrats made it clear
today that they tie their political future to defeat in Iraq. This isn't
support. This isn't concern. This isn't what a Congressman is sent to
Washington to do. This is nothing more than clear political antics that
prove Democrats are out for nothing more than a win for their own
party - not for America."

"I have been to Iraq four times, and I have seen first-hand the progress
that is being made on the ground. I have seen the Iraqi people help the
American soldiers. I have seen evidence that what our soldiers are doing
in Iraq is working. And I am not alone. Critics of the war have seen the
progress too, and they are telling their story. Democrats need to wake
and stop ignoring the facts on the ground. They need to realize that
this war is bigger than political games here in Washington."

***[LISTEN TO MY WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS]{.underline}***

Please click on the link below to listen to my most recent weekly radio
address that was sent to local radio and television stations. This
week's seven and a half minute address features Congressman Carter
discussing the Democrats' SCHIP bill.

<http://carter.house.gov/multimedia/>

***[INCREASED FUNDS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT]{.underline}***

***[Amendment provides additional funding for incarceration of illegal
immigrants]{.underline}***

Last week, in a bipartisan effort, I introduced an amendment to the
Departments of Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill
that will increase funding to reimburse state and local government for
costs associated with incarcerating illegal aliens by \$55 million,
bringing the total amount of reimbursement funding to \$460 million.

We have a huge immigration problem in America, and nowhere is that
problem more visible than in border states like Texas and California.
Securing our nation's borders is the federal government's responsibility
and with that responsibility comes the duty of punishing illegal aliens
who endanger our communities through criminal acts. Unfortunately, it is
the state and local governments who feel the financial burden of
incarcerating the growing number of illegal aliens.

According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), in
2006 alone, the uncompensated cost of incarcerating illegal aliens in
Texas' state and county prisons amounted to at least \$130.6 million.
The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) is authorized to
provide for state and local government costs of incarcerating criminal
aliens. However, the real cost of incarcerating undocumented criminal
aliens continues to be massively higher than federal funding levels
provided through SCAAP. Last year, SCAAP reimbursements for the state of
Texas amounted to \$18.6 million, only 14 percent of the total cost of
reimbursements. The amendment provides and additional \$55 million for
SCAAP, helping to ease the burden on our states, local governments and
the law enforcement community.

At a time when state and local governments are being asked to do even
more to protect our homeland, it is vital that the federal government
provide the critical funding needed to compensate them for the costs of
incarcerating illegal criminal immigrants.

***[OPPOSING CUTS TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE]{.underline}***

Yesterday I opposed a Democrat healthcare bill that could cut Medicare
Advantage benefits by \$157 billion, provide healthcare to illegal
immigrants and raise taxes on middle class Americans. The Majority's
bill dramatically expands the State Children's Health Insurance Program
(SCHIP) by allowing families who make up to \$82,000 a year, four times
the poverty level, to qualify for taxpayer-funded health care.

The era of big government is back, and this bill is the first step to
ensure that the government has their hand in your healthcare. Not only
is this plan the first-step toward a taxpayer-funded universal
healthcare system, it also cuts the highly successful Medicare Advantage
program for over 3 million seniors and rewards illegal immigrants by
supplying them with free healthcare.

According to press reports, Medicare Advantage would be cut by \$157
billion, resulting in higher co-pays, a loss in specific health care
benefits, less quality and choice of programs and fewer choices among
doctors. In the 31st District of Texas alone, 16,602 seniors would be
affected by the dramatic cuts in Medicare Advantage.