Now that we have candidates for the Republican presidential team, we can take a serious look at what the Republican budget plan for America is.

Grover Norquist (of the "you-must-sign-the-pledge-to-never-raise-taxes" fame) has told America that what Republicans want is a president with "enough digits" (fingers) to sign the Paul Ryan budget plan. So let's take a look.

The Ryan budget plan cuts $1.7 trillion from Medicaid--about a one-third cut. Did you know that more than 60 percent of seniors in nursing homes are completely dependent on Medicaid for receiving nursing care? That's because nursing homes are incredibly expensive (average cost in the U.S. is $6,000 per month and can be as high as $8,000). Any savings you might have had are wiped out pretty quickly when you have to pay those kinds of bills.

So if Republicans win in November, one-third of Medicaid dollars will be cut and most seniors and soon-to-be seniors will have to find somewhere other than a nursing home for their food, shelter, and medical care.

My advice to soon-to-be-seniors: Take a closer look at what the Romney-Ryan Republican budget will do to you and to your pocketbook! And remember, too, that local Reps. Eric Cantor and Rob Wittman voted yes to the Ryan budget plan.

Douglass Ferguson

Spotsylvania