Senate Bill 1014 became law on June 14, 2006. This law makes changes in the requirements for voting. The Department of Revenue is responsible for issuing photo identification cards (called non-driver licenses) to anyone who does not have any other form of photo identification and needs one for voting.
Nearly 96 percent of Missourians will be unaffected by this change. If you have a Missouri driver license, non-driver license or permit, a U.S. military ID without an expiration date that features your photo, or any other ID that satisfies the requirements listed below, you may present that ID to vote.
Your local election officials will determine whether your identification meets the requirements listed below. The Department of Revenue and its contract offices will NOT be the arbiter of such questions.
It is important to note that the August 2006 election will be conducted like any other previous election. There are no law changes that affect voting in the August 2006 election.
The Specifics:
White House to Ease Medicaid Rule on Proof of Citizenship
By ROBERT PEAR
Published: July 7, 2006
WASHINGTON, July 6,2006 The Bush administration said Thursday that it would exempt millions of the most vulnerable Medicaid recipients from a new law that requires them to prove they are United States citizens by showing birth certificates, passports or other documents.
The action was apparently intended to pre-empt a ruling by a federal judge who is scheduled to hold a hearing on Friday on a lawsuit challenging the new requirement, which took effect on July 1.
Dr. Mark B. McClellan, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said that more than 8 million of the 55 million Medicaid recipients would be "exempt from the new documentation requirement" because they had established their citizenship when they applied for Medicare or Supplemental Security Income.
Medicaid, financed jointly by the federal government and the states, provides health insurance for low-income people, including many in nursing homes. Medicare provides health insurance for people who are 65 and older or disabled. Supplemental Security Income is a cash assistance program for people with very low incomes who are elderly, blind or disabled. About six million people receive Medicare and Medicaid. In most states, people receiving Supplemental Security Income are entitled to Medicaid.
Dr. McClellan said the exemption would apply, for example, to "people with mental retardation who have never worked and to many nursing home residents." Critics of the new law had said it would be difficult for many people with mental retardation, Alzheimer's disease and other mental impairments to produce the documents needed to comply.
Under the law, anyone who has Medicaid coverage or applies for it must present "documentary evidence of citizenship." Previously, more than 40 states had accepted the applicants' written statements as proof of citizenship unless the claims seemed questionable. "Self-attestation of citizenship and identity is no longer an acceptable practice," the administration said in a rule issued on Thursday evening.
The new documentation requirement is part of the Deficit Reduction Act, signed by President Bush on Feb. 8. It is meant to stop the "theft of Medicaid benefits by illegal aliens," in the words of Representative Charlie Norwood, Republican of Georgia, a principal author of the provision.
In an unusual preamble to the new rule, the Bush administration said it believed that Congress had intended to exempt Medicaid beneficiaries who were also receiving Medicare or Supplemental Security Income.
The law says the documentation requirement "shall not apply to an alien who is eligible for medical assistance" if the person is also enrolled in one of the other two programs. The administration said this was "clearly a drafting error." Congress intended an exemption for citizens, "but accidentally used the term 'alien,' " the preamble says. New York Times
Voting Rights Act Reauthorization
Tell Congress to stop stalling and renew the Voting Rights Act. Equality in voting is fundamental to the American democratic system. For more than 40 years, the Voting Rights Act has protected the right of every American citizen to cast an informed vote. Sign the petition now
Career Opportunity
If you know of anyone between 18-28 years old, interested in the Nursing field, University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is offering FREE tuition, FREE books, a $250 monthly stipend, and guaranteed job placement as a Nurse at Providence Hospital upon graduation (it's a 3 year program) with a starting salary of $40,000. The program is recruiting new students now! Please contact Ms. Beshon Smith (202)266-5481 or email: Bsmith@urbanalliance.org
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