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June 16, 2008
Local impact of Governor Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts
Dear FCL Supporter,
Budget negotiations are picking up steam in the Capitol, and critical decisions will be made in the coming weeks.
Cutting services in a bad economy, when more people are unemployed and health care costs are rising at four times the rate of inflation, makes no sense. Disinvesting in public education will have negative impacts for years to come. In addition to jeopardizing services, these cuts will have large impacts on local economies.
Political power follows the path of least resistance. Unless we prevail, those without representation in Sacramento will bear the brunt of the proposed budget cuts. It is imperative that we make our voices heard and keep the pressure on the Legislature to avoid making additional cuts to health and human services and to education. Surely, California – the eighth largest economy in the world – can do better!
The California Budget Project has provided us with an outstanding tool to help California citizens effectively lobby their legislators in their districts on the local impact of Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget cuts (figures provided by the California Budget Project).
TAKE ACTION NOW!
FCL urges you to contact your state representatives and tell them what the impact of the governor’s proposed cuts will be for your community. Tell them that these cuts are unacceptable and must be rejected. Include specific examples for your community by using the links below.
Medi-Cal: Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed reducing the maximum income level for Medi-Cal (California’s version of Medicaid) eligibility to 61 percent of the federal poverty level, or $10,736 for a family of three.
Click here to find out how many people will lose Medi-Cal benefits in your State Senator’s district and your Assembly Member’s district if the Legislature accepts the governor’s proposal.
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS): IHSS provides services to low-income seniors and people with disabilities who live at home. In-home care is far less costly than institutionalized care. Govern Schwarzenegger has proposed to eliminate domestic services for 84,000 vulnerable Californians whose impairments are less severe.
Click here to find out how many low-income seniors and people with disabilities in your county will lose their benefits under the governor’s proposal.
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Workers: Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed reducing the state's contribution to IHSS workers' salaries to $8.60 per hour (minimum wage plus $.60 per hour for benefits). The governor has also proposed the elimination of meal preparation, laundry and errands for less severe IHHS recipients, which would reduce the average hours of services from 74 to 52 per month. The combination of these cuts would reduce IHSS compensation by $618 million for fiscal year 2008-2009.
Click here to find the total lost compensation for IHHS workers for your county.
Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP): SSI/SSP provides grants to low-income seniors and people with disabilities to help them meet their daily living expenses. In the Special Session earlier this year, the governor signed legislation delaying the June 2008 state cost-of-living-allowance (COLA) until October, 2008. Now, the governor proposes to eliminate the June 2008 COLA and the June 2009 COLA. In addition, the governor’s revised budget would eliminate the federal COLA slated for January 2009. In sum, the governor would reduce the purchasing power of one million vulnerable Californians by $393 million.
Click here to see the impact of SSI/SSP cuts to seniors and people with disabilities in your county.
CalWORKS: CalWORKS is the state’s version of the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (also referred to as “welfare-to-work”), which provides cash assistance for low income families and children while helping parents overcome barriers to employment. According to the California Budget Project, the governor has proposed three policy changes that would eliminate benefits for 225,000 children.
Click here to see how many children in your county would lose CalWORKS benefits in your county under the governor’s revised budget proposal.
Public Education K-12: Though the governor’s revised budget restores some funding, public education is slated for a $4 billion cut.
Click here to see the impact of Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget cuts for your local school district.
Use the links below to find your state representatives, addresses and phone numbers.
Sincerely yours,
Jim Lindburg
Legislative Advocate
Friends Committee on Legislation
717 K St., Suite 500-B
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-3734
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