WCLP today obtained a copy of the Department of Finance's revised budget letter to the Budget Conference Committee on Social Services. The letter (which is attached) details all the additionals solutions to the Department of Social Services budget. The major change is the proposal to eliminate the CalWORKs program and reject the $3.7 billion TANF block grant. But the letter also provides details on cuts to IHSS, adoption assistance and child welfare. The letter provides no rationale for the proposals but gives an accounting of how the budget would impact various programs.

Legislative offices report that they are getting hundreds of calls on CalWORKs from people opposing the elimination of the program. Many are coming from CalWORKs participants themselves who are outraged at the prospect of losing their assistance and the opportunity to move out of poverty. Community colleges, counties and welfare advocates are all sponsoring calls into the Governor and Legislature. Groups are coming out of the woodwork - Check out this group working to prevent the elimination of the safety net.  http://helpamotherout.org/

The Conference Committee has finished the first pass on the budget. They are expected to go back in this afternoon to begin Round 2 of the process. It is still unclear how the committee will proceed and they are expected to announce the process. We will pass it along as soon as we know.