I'm talking about the elderly disabled immigrants who, by the grace of our President and a rabid Congress, are soon to be suddenly destitute.

He has proposed a two- or three-year block grant to states to help elderly or disabled immigrants, but the solution would be temporary.

Governor Bush said this week that he is opposed to plans to cut off benefits for elderly and disabled legal immigrants.

The House-Senate agreement would restore food stamps to 250,000 elderly and disabled legal immigrants dropped from the rolls in 1996.

Federal officials say they do not know how many of the disabled legal immigrants now receiving benefits are mentally incompetent.

He said he favors a two- or three-year block grant to states to help elderly and disabled immigrants who lose their Federal benefits.

Mr. Gore said the proposals "would cut off 100,000 severely disabled immigrants who would receive benefits under the budget agreement."

Those included votes in support of ending Medicaid for disabled immigrants and to repeal Federal nursing home standards.

But Congress restored Medicaid coverage and cash assistance for only some elderly and disabled immigrants.

Last year, about 130,000 elderly and disabled immigrants in the city were expected to lose benefits under the new Federal law aimed at noncitizens.