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Medicare and Medicaid Advocates Target Senator Toomey

The Pennsylvania Health Access Network and the Consumer Health Coalition are calling on Senator Pat Toomey to protect Medicare and Medicaid from spending cuts that they say would hurt the quality of care for millions of families, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

Advocates will gather at Sen. Toomey's office to emphasize the importance of the federal programs, according to Erin Gill-Ninehouse of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, which she says not only provide the care people need, but are also economic engines in communities.

Instead of balancing spending cuts and revenue increases, Gill-Ninehouse says that Senator Toomey would cut $890 billion and allow only $250 billion in revenues, mostly by taking away middle class tax deductions, and his plan would make the Bush tax cuts on millionaires and billionaires permanent. She says that it may be a good thing if the Super Committee fails to reach an agreement.

There will be a rally at 4:00 PM today outside of Senator Toomey's office in Station Square at the Smithfield Bridge. The public can write messages to be incorporated into the "Keep Pennsylvania Covered Quilt," that will be delivered to the senator.

Senator Toomey is a member of the Congressional Super Committee charged with reducing the nation's deficit.