Governor Proposes Devastating Cuts to Health and Welfare Programs

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Governor Proposes Devastating Cuts to Health and Welfare Programs
01/08/2010

WCLP's Early Budget SummaryAttached.

Governor Schwarzenegger today proposed elimination of major public benefit programs and reductions in services used by millions of Californians. Among the proposals are a 15.7 percent cut to the CalWORKs grant, major health care reductions, elimination of programs that provide assistance for legal immigrants and virtual elimination of In-Home Supportive Services.

Governor Schwarzenegger is harming the public structures developed by generations of Californians that have helped families overcome poverty and provide assistance to those who need help. The Governor seems to want a world class economy with a third rate safety net. Californians deserve better. We urge the Legislature to reject these proposals and develop a responsible solution to the budget that serves the public good. Eliminating jobs and cutting critical assistance will only make the economic crisis worse.

The Governor is also irresponsibly threatening vulnerable families with elimination of critical cash assistance and services if the federal government does not provide $6.9 billion in federal assistance. While Congress must help the state with its budget crisis, it is wrong to scare poor families who depend on assistance. Before the Governor threatens families, perhaps he should do a better job of drawing down the $3.7 billion in federal Food Stamps that the Administration prevents California families from receiving each year.

These proposals come on top of draconian cuts to health and human service programs in 2009. If approved, the Governor’s proposals would undo decades of investment by the people of California in helping families and individuals exactly when these programs are more needed than ever. WCLP is calling on the Legislature to reject the Governor’s proposals and to work closely with Congress and the Obama Administration to maintain these vital programs.

Please find attached our quick summary of the major health and human service provisions.You can read the Governor's Budget Summary by going to the following link: http://www.dof.ca.gov/budget/historical/2010-11/governors/documents/Supplementary_Budget_Summary.pdf

WCLP's HHS Budget Summary