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Settling a highly-publicized lawsuit filed by two teenage girls, represented by Western Center a... Read More..
Today, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released her 2012 Farm Bill... Read More..
Western Center's 2012 legislative agenda includes bills to protect health and housing, secure acc... Read More..
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Governor Proposes Complete Defunding of Child Welfare and Foster Care
California sank to a new low today when it was revealed that the Department of Finance proposed to the Governor eliminating all $890 million in state funds to counties for foster care and child welfare services. The jaw-dropping proposal is the latest in a series of ever more drastic proposals that seem to have little regard for the need for a social safety net. If this policy were adopted tens of thousands of the most needy children in our state would be left destitute. Advocates talked with Senate leader Darrell Steinberg Thursday afternoon and he confiremd that the Administration had made the proposal Senator Steinberg strongly denounced the proposal and said '"that we are in the fight of our lives but we are not throwing away the safety net." Later, the Legislature considered four measures that would have deferred enough state spending to avoid issuing IOUs on July 2nd. The Assembly swiftly passed the bills with strong, vocal Republcian support but the Governor quickly objected by threatening a veto. The Senate Republicans who seemed to be poised to approve the measures, then went to meet with the Governor. After they exited the meeting they returned to the floor with the news that they would not vote for the deferrals. A long emotional debate ensued on the Senate floor, bringing tears to the eyes of veteran legislator and Budget Chair Denise Moreno Ducheny in her floor speech. Tomorrow both chambers are meeting again to possibly consider more measures. The game of chicken seems to be destined to run itself out through June 30th.
California sank to a new low today when it was revealed that the Department of Finance proposed to the Governor eliminating all $890 million in state funds to counties for foster care and child welfare services. The jaw-dropping proposal is the latest in a series of ever more drastic proposals that seem to have little regard for the need for a social safety net. If this policy were adopted tens of thousands of the most needy children in our state would be left destitute.
Advocates talked with Senate leader Darrell Steinberg Thursday afternoon and he confiremd that the Administration had made the proposal Senator Steinberg strongly denounced the proposal and said '"that we are in the fight of our lives but we are not throwing away the safety net."
Later, the Legislature considered four measures that would have deferred enough state spending to avoid issuing IOUs on July 2nd. The Assembly swiftly passed the bills with strong, vocal Republcian support but the Governor quickly objected by threatening a veto. The Senate Republicans who seemed to be poised to approve the measures, then went to meet with the Governor. After they exited the meeting they returned to the floor with the news that they would not vote for the deferrals. A long emotional debate ensued on the Senate floor, bringing tears to the eyes of veteran legislator and Budget Chair Denise Moreno Ducheny in her floor speech.
Tomorrow both chambers are meeting again to possibly consider more measures. The game of chicken seems to be destined to run itself out through June 30th.