Governor Brad Henry concerned over Bush budget cuts

Tuesday, March 1st 2005, 6:30 am

By: News On 6

UNDATED (AP) Governor Brad Henry is voicing his concerns about budget cuts proposed by President Bush that would affect about 80 percent of veterans receiving state assistance in Oklahoma.

Henry -- who's in the nation's capital for a meeting of the National Governors Association -- also criticized Bush's proposed cuts to Medicaid Monday.

The governor says 1,110 of the 1,433 veterans receiving assistance in Oklahoma no longer would be eligible. He says as many as three veterans centers in the state could close.

Henry says the federal government has had an agreement with the states to pay for long-term care in state veterans homes.

Governors met with President Bush about the president's proposal to cut federal Medicaid spending $60-billion over ten years, forcing states to share a greater cost of the health care program for poor and elderly people.

Henry said growing Medicaid costs are already hurting states and taking money away from other needs, including education and transportation.