As the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, we continue to express our gratitude for your service to the common good of the people of this great state and nation. As you begin considerations for a Budget Reconciliation package, it is vital that social safety net programs like Medicaid are protected and strengthened for the most vulnerable in our society.
The final budget reconciliation package should provide relief to low-income families and should not place additional burdens on those who are struggling. In responding to Isaiah’s call for justice, action is urgently needed: “Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord” (Is. 1:18). Louisiana ranks second in Medicaid enrollment, at nearly 32%- a reflection of the state's high poverty rate (48th in child poverty). Working together to address poverty will yield both moral and fiscal benefits more than placing an additional burden on hard-working Louisiana citizens.