May 2, 2008

PAFCO Update #17 - BI-PARTISAN TALKS HAVE YET TO RESUME ---- DON'T GIVE INTO ADVOCAY FATIGUE - There are solutions for 2009.

BI PARTISAN TALKS HAVE YET TO RESUME

There are no bi partisan budget negotiations going on.  Republican Leadership in both chambers are meeting with some of their very conservative and moderate members in an attempt to "get their act together" prior to resuming bipartisan budget negotiations.  Republican leadership want to go into the 2009 negotiations with a united front and stronger position for 2009 budget.  Republican leadership are talking about a 20% acrossed the board cut as starting point, but most observers say that is non starter and not going anywhere.  But it does show that some leadership is still very intent on drastically cutting the budget including health and human services.  We must remain vigilant and continue to do advocacy.

DON'T GIVE INTO ADVOCAY FATIGUE

�         We must not give into advocacy fatigue - that is the strategy of the opposition, drag out the process until we all tire of it and give in to their demands --- that is deep cuts to health and human services. 

�         We must continue to advocate for the needs of poor and vulnerable families, those without a voice and support those legislators who are voices and votes for those without a voice.  

�         So make your calls, send your letters, urge your agency colleagues, staff, volunteers and people you serve to act.  And get friends to take action. 

�         Yes, it seems endless, more calls, more letters, but it does make a difference in the end. 

�         Taken together all these small acts of advocacy add up to a very large impact.  Your calls and letters make a real difference. Our voices together make a large chorus singing loudly for the needs of poor and vulnerable families and adults. 

�         Together we have prevailed in the past, we have stopped cuts and made improvements in health and human services, but we must be persistent.   

�         We know you are very busy but take the time for advocacy. Your voice is critical to the process and children and families and vulnerable adults in need.

�         We must be relentless in our advocacy to protect critical health and human services at this time.  There is a large unfinished agenda already; we don't need it to get larger.

Our advocacy message to the Governor and Legislators remains:

�         Do NOT cut critical safety net health and human services for children and vulnerable adults when demand is growing.

�         Protect current services to current people being served and protect current capacity during this critical time of an economic downturn.

�         Don't lower eligibility limits in programs.  Working families need critical supports during an economic recession.

�         There are reasonable options for 2009 including bonding, rollovers, additional sweeps, the rainy day fund, and other revenue generators.

�         Demand continues to increase. Some community agencies are experiencing increases of 40% to 60% in requests for essential services for the necessities of life.

�         Flat budgets will already be a cut as costs for transportation, health care, and food, and other services increase.

�         Finally, open the budget discussion with more transparency and meaningful public input.

April 22, 2008

THE SKY IS NOT FALLING --- There are budget solutions for FY2009

Despite what you may have heard, there are options and solutions for the 2009 budget that do not require deep cuts to critical health and human services for children and vulnerable adults.  The chart at the bottom of this email outlines those options. 

These options will be hotly debated. Some are very controversial. Nevertheless, they demonstrate there are solutions which can protect health and human services during an economic downturn when demand is growing.  And there are other options which still are not on the table like tax reform which should be considered. 

Our message to the Governor and Legislators remains:

�         Do NOT cut critical safety net health and human services for children and vulnerable adults when demand is growing.

�         Protect current services to current people being served and protect current capacity during this critical time of an economic downturn.

�         Don't lower eligibility limits in programs.  Working families need critical supports during an economic recession.

�         There are reasonable options for 2009 including bonding, rollovers, additional sweeps, the rainy day fund, and other revenue generators.  (See the chart below.)

�         Demand continues to increase. Some community agencies are experiencing increases of 40% to 60% in requests for essential services for the necessities of life.

�         Flat budgets will already be a cut as costs for transportation, health care, and food and other services increase.

�         Finally, open the budget discussion with more transparency and meaningful public input.

A BAD IDEA - ACTION ALERT - URGE SENATORS TO STOP HCR 2044.

TAKE ACTION - CLICK AND SEND A LETTER TODAY

http://capwiz.com/socialworkers/az/issues/alert/?alertid=11237021

�         Please urge your state senators to vote against HCR 2044.  Click on the link, fill in the blanks and a letter will be sent directly to your Senator urging them to vote against HCR 2044. You can personalize the letter too.  

�         The Senate Appropriations Committee reconsidered HCR 2044 and passed it with some amendments which don't really fix this bad idea.  This is a House Concurrent Resolution, meaning if it passes both houses, it can be placed on the ballot as a referendum without review by the governor.  

�         In 1998 voters approved Proposition 105 which prohibits lawmakers from changing, or repealing a voter approved act or expenditure without a three-fourths approval.

�         This bill would ENABLE THE LEGISLATURE TO gut many health and human services initiatives including health care for the poor, education support, and early childhood development like most recent use of tobacco tax funding to increase healthcare coverage for low income children and adults and for First Things First (Early Childhood Health Screening and Development).

�         HCR2044 (voter-protection; temporary budgetary suspension) would upon voter approval, permit the Legislature to appropriate or divert funds enacted by initiative or referendum in years when the state budget is projected to have a deficit. The last time the Legislature tried to end run popular initiatives, the voters passed the Voter Protection Act (Prop 105) that keeps the Legislature from cutting those programs as they would like to do.

�         Make sure it does not pass on the Senate Floor.  Write, call, and e-mail your state senators and let them know how you feel.

April 18, 2008

CURRENT SERVICES AND CURRENT CAPACITY PROTECTED. Although this 2008 budget has lots of cuts and sweeps (see summary below), it appears that current health and human services to current people and current capacity for health and human services are protected.  We have been assured (first hand and face to face down at the legislature) by various sources, agencies, legislative leaders, legislators, and Governor's office that no current services are cut and no capacity is lost - for now.   We are doing a detailed analysis to determine real and final impacts but it looks like rational thinking and goodness prevailed this round.  We am told Governor will sign this budget.  Your advocacy efforts paid off by supporting reasonable options and no cuts to vital health and human services.  

REAL PAIN MAY BE COMING IN 2009 BUDGET. Everyone is saying the real pain is coming in 2009 budget, so we have our work cut out for us. Flat budgets in 2009 will still be cuts, because of significantly rising costs for transportation, health care, and now food and other costs.  Real inflation is probably around 10% so real cuts will be coming just if programs have flat budgets for 2009.   So we have to fight even harder for 2009 to sustain current services and current capacity even at a current levels and rates.

REMAIN VIGILANT TO STOP CUTS. Many in the opposition are still hell bent on cutting health and human services from an anti-government ideological stance.  And that is without using all the tools available like tax reform and creating a fair, equitable, progressive and adequate tax structure.  The opposition to health and human services wants to lower eligibility limits in most programs to permanently cut programs.  We must continue to oppose such cuts.  So we must remain vigilant and be prepared to do even more advocacy in the next month to stop cuts the 2009 budget. 

Thanks for all your advocacy to make this a decent budget with limited negative impact on poor and vulnerable people.  Please thank those legislative leaders and the members who supported them and the Governor who worked so hard to protect health and human services for children and vulnerable adults.

April 4, 2008

Behind Closed Doors --- Proposed Cuts being discussed - Take Action letter below!

Legislative Leaders and the Governor are in negotiation behind closed doors and it seems progress is being made.  By at whose expense and at what price?  Examples of cuts being discussed include:

�         A 33% cut in Community Health Centers ($4.5 million) which could impact up to 38,000 low income persons from getting needed health care.  (This could just clog emergency rooms even more.)

�         Cuts in child welfare funding from last year to backfill lost federal funding impacting thousands of foster children and families.  (This could result in the loss of in-home services alternative ironically driving up costs.)

�         Creating a child care waiting list or lowering child care eligibility impacting thousands of low income families trying to work during a recession.  (This type of cut just pushes families onto public assistance which does not seem like good public policy.)

�         KidCare Parents - eliminating 13,000 parents further clogging emergency rooms or resulting in loss of regular primary care or forcing health care in emergencies only.

�         KidsCare eligibility lowered to 175% from poverty rather current 200% of poverty leaving families no alternatives again and more clogging emergency rooms or even more dire consequences of not getting regular health care. (Over 19,000 children could be eliminated from the program.)

�         Eliminating immunizations for vulnerable adults putting individuals and communities at risk.

�         Eliminating General Assistance for 1,300 persons with serious disabilities. (This is a basic support and safety net program and may just be cruel while only saving a few million dollars.)

�         Eliminating dual eligibles' prescription coverage forcing low income elders and people with disabilities to go without critical medicines. (This could result in more hospitalizations and most costs.) 

�         Large Housing Trust Sweeps which will impact homelessness, lose needed construction jobs and state revenues.  (Makes no sense economically or humanely.) 

�         Loss of homeless lottery funding --- when issues for families experiencing homelessness are getting worse. 

�         While none of these cuts have been finally proposed or adopted:  NONE OF THIS MAKES ANY SENSE.  Eliminating these types of services is not smart, cost effective or humane.  It is penny wise and pound foolish. We must not balance the budget on backs of the children and vulnerable adults eliminating basic safety programs when they are needed most.  

OPEN UP THE PROCESS. We must open up the process so the public can comment and propose options to such cruel and inhumane cuts.  There are clear alternatives to cutting health and human services. 

DEMAND IS GROWING. The demands for basic need health and human services will only grow during a recession.  The Food Stamp caseload is already growing, requests for AHCCCS health care are up, food banks are experiencing significantly increasing demand, and CPS referrals are up. Even Adult Protective Services referrals are growing.  WE CANNOT BE CUTTING SERVICE CAPACITY AT A TIME WHEN SERVICES DEMAND IS GROWING.

PAFCO URGES NO CUTS TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. PAFCO continues to urge that no cuts be made to current direct services involving real people getting essential services today. 

March 28, 2008

BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS PLOD ON - PROGRESS CONTINUES BUT IS SLOW. 

While budget negotiations plod along a few details have emerged.  Caseload numbers, (K-12 student projections, AHCCCS caseload projections, university projections, corrections inmate counts, etc) have been agreed upon.  Targets for funds sweeps have been generally finalized.  Areas for cuts are being discussed with some Republican leaders pressing for up to a billion dollars in cuts.  Some legislative leaders want new eligibility limits in some programs as permanent ways to curtail programs.  KidsCare Parents program is being discussed for cuts, but NOTHING is final yet.  Some observers say 2008 is almost done, but many issues remain around 2009 budget. 

Budget bills may appear within the next couple of weeks - or sooner.   Reports are the Governor wants the budget done in two weeks. Apparently agencies will be given lump sum targets for cuts, but not required to make across the board cuts.  Legislators are working over the weekend to move the process along. 

One Republican Senator this week, on a local TV news program (Horizon) even suggested that Arizona may have to raise taxes to address its critical infrastructure needs.  Now that would be an innovative idea to prepare for investments in quality of life for all Arizonans in the future.   We must be prepared to do advocacy --- and protect the health and human services sector and the needs of vulnerable people.  So stay tuned.

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Arizona Capital Times and Arizona Republic published op-ed columns on the PAFCO Unfinished Agenda last week March 21.  

Too often, health and human services state budget allocations have been the scraps and afterthoughts of the budget rather than a serious, comprehensive process of setting an agenda of what's needed to seriously address Arizona's social concerns.  In order to provoke discussion and stimulate solutions, the Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition - PAFCO Education Fund recently published the Unfinished Agenda for Health and Human Services for Arizona.  This unique and unprecedented publication represents a new effort by the PAFCO boards to stimulate action on Arizona's most pressing social and health concerns.  Much like we must plan our transportation infrastructure, we must plan solutions for the future for our most vulnerable families.  Downloadable copies are available at the PAFCO website.    http://www.pafcoalition.org/pdf/45104_PAFC_complete.pdf

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DEMAND GROWING - Advocates must remain vigilant!

The demands for basic need health and human services will only grow during a recession.  The Food Stamp caseload is already growing, requests for AHCCCS health care are up, food banks are experiencing significantly increasing demand, and CPS referrals are up. Even Adult Protective Services referrals are growing.  WE CANNOT BE CUTTING SERVICE CAPACITY AT A TIME WHEN SERVICES DEMAND IS GROWING. We urge no cuts to our capacity for health and human services. We must protect current services as much as possible, since we are so far behind in so many areas already, while demand is rising and community donations are falling.

PAFCO URGES NO CUTS TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

PAFCO continues to urge that no cuts be made to current direct services involving real people getting essential services today.  While we recognize that there may need to be cuts in many areas to weather this economic crisis, we believe no cuts should be made to current services for vulnerable populations. 

BASIC QUESTIONS

Policymakers should ask themselves three basic questions when contemplating particular budget cuts:

·Is it humane?  Will the cut result in loss of current, essential services a human being depends on for survival- food, shelter, medical care, etc.? For example, cuts to food assistance programs mean families go hungry.

·Is it safe? Will the cut jeopardize the health or safety of the person receiving services or others?  Certain cuts can force people into dangerous or unhealthy situations.  Cuts to domestic violence shelter puts women seeking safety in grave physical danger.  CPS cuts leave children vulnerable to abuse.

·Is it smart?  Some cuts are penny-wise and pound-foolish.  Will the cut merely result in moving the recipient from one program to another with even higher costs?  For example, cutting a single mother's child care assistance will quickly force her out of work and back on welfare, food stamps, and AHCCCS.  Other cuts may forfeit federal match money that would flow directly into the Arizona economy.

WHAT DISTINQUISHES THE NEEDS OF THE POOR AND VULNERABLE

For children and vulnerable populations, critical health and human services are their safety net, their lifeboat, their fundamental need. This is what distinguishes the needs of the poor and vulnerable from all other groups.  The public services safety net is their last resort, their final resource, whereas others may have other means to weather this type of economic or social crisis.  The poor and vulnerable have no other way to provide for their basic necessities of life, health, safety and care. 

Cuts in health and human services can be inhumane and counter-productive.   These basic services typically prevent more costly interventions by government.  The public safety net helps prevent homelessness and hunger and helps people escape harm and violence.  Cuts to the safety net stop elderly from living independently, stop low income mothers from working, force children out of child care, and force victims of domestic violence onto the streets rather than shelters. 

MANY REVENUE OPTIONS MUST BE CONSIDERED - DON'T CUT TAXES.

PAFCO supports bonding and the use of all possible sources for revenues, (use of rainy day, rollovers, sweeps, etc) from the beginning of the session.  All options, including raising taxes on those who might afford it during an economic downturn, need to be considered before we cut basic programs for vulnerable children, families and adults. The state might even have to consider putting off investments in other important areas in order to protect the basic necessities of life for vulnerable children and adults.

REDUCING SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES IS HARD ON A STATE'S ECONOMY

·         Cutting programs for low-income families may be the single most damaging step that states can take during a recession," said Kevin Carey for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "Such programs are intended to act as automatic economic stabilizers, because they naturally expand to meet increased levels of need when families lose jobs and income. '

·         Reducing services for low-income people is especially hard on a state's economy, because these people tend to spend most or all of every dollar they receive. According to a report by economists Peter Orszag and 2001 Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz, cutting spending on programs that serve low-income people tends to reduce consumption — and thus state economic activity — by the full amount of the spending reduction.  (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report - January 17, 2002)

March 22, 2008

BUDGET NEGOTITATIONS PROGRESS - BASIC QUESTIONS -- What distinguishes the needs of the poor and vulnerable in a budget crisis? Have you taken action yet to protect critical health and human services?

BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS ARE PROGRESSING, PARTICULARLY ON 2008. 

House and Senate leadership along with the Governor seem to be coming to agreement on the budget.  Budget bills may appear within the next couple of weeks - or sooner.   Apparently agencies will be given lump sum targets for cuts,  but not required to make across the board cuts.  But stay tuned.  Are you and your colleagues prepared to act quickly to stop cuts when bills are published and details distributed? 

Take Action now too by sending a letter urging no cuts to health and human services.  SEE ACTION LETTER BELOW!

PAFCO URGES NO CUTS TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

PAFCO continues to urge that no cuts be made to current direct services involving real people getting essential services today.  While we recognize that there may need to be cuts in many areas to weather this economic crisis, we believe no cuts should be made to current services for vulnerable populations. 

BASIC QUESTIONS

Policymakers should ask themselves three basic questions when contemplating particular budget cuts:

Is it humane?  Will the cut result in loss of current, essential services a human being depends on for survival- food, shelter, medical care, etc.? For example, cuts to food assistance programs mean families go hungry.

Is it safe? Will the cut jeopardize the health or safety of the person receiving services or others?  Certain cuts can force people into dangerous or unhealthy situations.  Cuts to domestic violence shelter puts women seeking safety in grave physical danger.  CPS cuts leave children vulnerable to abuse.

Is it smart?  Some cuts are penny-wise and pound-foolish.  Will the cut merely result in moving the recipient from one program to another with even higher costs?  For example, cutting a single mother's child care assistance will quickly force her out of work and back on welfare, food stamps, and AHCCCS.  Other cuts may forfeit federal match money that would flow directly into the Arizona economy.

WHAT DISTINQUISHES THE NEEDS OF THE POOR AND VULNERABLE

With the recession deepening, things will only get worse.   For children and vulnerable populations, these services are their safety net, their lifeboat, their fundamental need. This is what distinguishes the needs of the poor and vulnerable from all other groups.  The public services safety net is their last resort, their final resource, whereas others may have other means to weather this type of economic or social crisis.  The poor and vulnerable have no other way to provide for their basic necessities of life, health, safety and care. 

Cuts in health and human services can be inhumane and counter-productive.   These basic services typically prevent more costly interventions by government.  The public safety net helps prevent homelessness and hunger and helps people escape harm and violence.  Cuts to the safety net stop elderly from living independently, stop low income mothers from working, force children out of child care, and force victims of domestic violence onto the streets rather than shelters. 

DEMAND GROWING

The demands for basic needs will only grow during a recession.  The Food Stamp caseload is growing, requests for AHCCCS health care are up, food banks are experiencing increasing demand, and CPS referrals are up. Even Adult Protective Services referrals are growing.   We urge no cuts to our capacity for health and human services. We must protect current services as much as possible, since we are so far behind in so many areas already, while demand is rising and community donations are falling.  We also urge freezes on staff or and administrative cuts not be permanent. We must not play into the 'starve the beast" mentality. 

MANY REVENUE OPTIONS MUST BE CONSIDERED - DON'T CUT TAXES.

PAFCO supports bonding and the use of all possible sources for revenues, (use of rainy day, rollovers, sweeps, etc).  All options, including raising taxes on those who might afford it during an economic downturn, need to be considered before we cut basic programs for vulnerable children, families and adults. The state might even have to consider putting off investments in other important areas in order to protect the basic necessities of life for vulnerable children and adults.

REDUCING SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES IS HARD ON A STATE'S ECONOMY

Cutting programs for low-income families may be the single most damaging step that states can take during a recession," said Kevin Carey for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "Such programs are intended to act as automatic economic stabilizers, because they naturally expand to meet increased levels of need when families lose jobs and income. '

Reducing services for low-income people is especially hard on a state's economy, because these people tend to spend most or all of every dollar they receive. According to a report by economists Peter Orszag and 2001 Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz, cutting spending on programs that serve low-income people tends to reduce consumption and thus state economic activity by the full amount of the spending reduction.  (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report - January 17, 2002)

March 15, 2008

Revenue Projections Get Worse -  What differentiates health and human services - Take Action to Protect critical services!

The Governor and Legislative leadership are negotiating the budget.  By all reports, revenue projections are getting worse and "programmatic cuts" are being contemplated across all state agencies-at least for 2009.  The Governor continues her commitment to protect critical services for children and vulnerable adults, but …... if things get bad enough, cuts may be necessary.   You can make the difference, take action.  Send your letter today - see action below!

What differentiates health and human services?    As a basic principle, PAFCO continues to urge that no cuts be made to current direct services involving real people getting real services today.  For these citizens receiving current direct services, this is their safety net, their lifeboat, their fundamental need.  This is what differentiates the needs of the poor and vulnerable from all other groups.  This is their last resort, their final resource, whereas others may have other means to weather this type of economic or social crisis.  For many, they have no other way to provide for their basic necessities of life, continue their independence, escape violence, and live in dignity. The demands for basic needs will only grow during a worsening recession. 

Additionally we also urge no cuts in current basic capacity for health and human services, we must protect current services capacity as much as possible, since we are so far behind in so many areas already and demand is rising and community donations are already falling.  And with the recession worsening, things cut only get worse; demands will only continue to rise.  We also urge no freezes on staff or administrative cuts be made permanent.

PAFCO supports bonding and the use of all possibilities for revenues, (use of rainy day, rollovers, sweeps, etc) from the beginning of the session.  Many options, including eliminating tax cuts for those who can manage that financially during an economic downturn, need to be considered before we cut basic programs for vulnerable children, families and adults. In any case we must protect health and human services during an economic downturn as it gets worse and more people will turn to the publicly supported safety net for support and protection. 

NEGATIVE IMPACT OF REDUCING INCOME AND SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES

Cutting programs for low-income families may be the single most damaging step that states can take during a recession," said Kevin Carey for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "Such programs are intended to act as automatic economic stabilizers, because they naturally expand to meet increased levels of need when families lose jobs and income. '

Reducing services for low-income people is especially hard on a state's economy, because these people tend to spend most or all of every dollar they receive. According to a report by economists Peter Orszag and 2001 Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz, cutting spending on programs that serve low-income people tends to reduce consumption and thus state economic activity by the full amount of the spending reduction.  (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report - January 17, 2002)

hese types of cuts also don't make economic sense since these basic services typically prevent more costly institutionalization or hospitalizations.  They prevent homelessness and hunger and help people escape harm and violence.   

March 7, 2008

Republican Leadership force budget "freeze" and cuts through Legislature, but will they produce a thaw in negotiations. Take Action, oppose these cuts!

HOUSE AND SENATE PASS BUDGET "FREEZE" BILLS but will they lead to a thaw in negotiations.

The House and Senate Republicans passed budget "freeze" bills (SB1300 and HB2857) this week.  However most observers are wondering how these actions will help produce real solutions in the budget negotiations.  And others wonder why the "freeze" bills needed to include cuts to eliminate the General Assistance program, other lump sum cuts to DES critical programs, lump sum cuts to public health programs, big sweeps from the Housing Trust Fund and other critical program for children and vulnerable adults.  Many see this as a back door approach by the Republican Leadership at the Legislature to making the cuts it really wants, rather than the publicly stated goal of freezing funds in various accounts while negotiations proceed.  It would not seem necessary to include cuts at this point if freezing funds was the real purpose at this time. 

PAFCO OPPOSES THESE CUTS - We urge Governor's veto!

The Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition strongly opposes this budget approach that is the freezes and cuts as embodied in SB1300 and HB2857. We urge the Governor to veto these budget bills and urge a return to the bi-partisan negotiations for more reasonable approaches.

These cuts in these bills threaten the very basic safety net and "lifeboat" services for many children and vulnerable adults.  For example, these bills eliminate the General Assistance program curtailing services to 1300 people with serious disabilities.  These bills will cause harm to children and families by their across the board cuts in an agency like the Department of Economic Security.  Based on data from DES, cuts would be forced in child care, domestic violence, home and community services for elderly, vocational rehabilitation, food programs --- all basic necessities of life programs --- the lifeboat or final safety net for many Arizona's families.  These bills will force curtailment of public health services in the Department of Health Services, and loss of critical affordable housing and homeless prevention services from the Housing Trust Fund.  

REDUCING SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES IS HARD ON A STATE'S ECONOMY

·         Cutting programs for low-income families may be the single most damaging step that states can take during a recession," said Kevin Carey for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "Such programs are intended to act as automatic economic stabilizers, because they naturally expand to meet increased levels of need when families lose jobs and income. '

·         Reducing services for low-income people is especially hard on a state's economy, because these people tend to spend most or all of every dollar they receive. According to a report by economists Peter Orszag and 2001 Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz, cutting spending on programs that serve low-income people tends to reduce consumption — and thus state economic activity — by the full amount of the spending reduction.  (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report - January 17, 2002)

·         These types of cuts also don't make economic sense since these basic services typically prevent more costly institutionalization or hospitalizations.  They prevent homelessness and hunger and help people escape harm and violence.   

Comments (0) 03-25-2008

February 29, 2008

Budget Negotiations Lumber On - Arizona Chamber endorses School Construction Bonding - Take Action to urge your legislators to protect critical health and human services for children and vulnerable adults!

BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS LUMBER ON --- BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

A bi partisan group of House and Senate leadership continues the state budget negotiations but no budget bills are finalized for any committee or floor general membership votes yet.  So stay tuned.   This past week the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry came out in support of school financing bonding.  PAFCO also supports the use of bonding for school finance construction.  Nevertheless, we must be persistent in our message of protecting the safety net of health and human services, avoiding cuts, and using reasonable options and solutions.

PLEASE CONSIDER THESE TALKING POINTS AND TAKE ACTION.

�         Do NO HARM! THE SAFETY NET BECOMES EVEN MORE CRITICAL IN ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS.  And will be more critical the longer and deeper any downturn continues as it impacts more poor and vulnerable families and adults. No cuts to critical health and human services.

�         And we know from Nobel Prize economists' analysis - reducing services for low income people is one of the worst things you can do to a state's economy.  (CBPP News Release January 17, 2002)

�         Reasonable options include: Bonding for school construction financing, use of the raining day, rollover of school operations funding, careful fund sweeps, and careful cuts avoiding slash and burn across the board cuts which can devastate programs and put children and families at risk. 

�         Reasonable people will not balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable, children and vulnerable adults.   All other options will be exercised first.

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UNFINISHED AGENDA FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES distributed to legislators, executive agencies, foundations, and community agencies. 

In this time of fiscal crisis, conversations about the future of the state must include the health and human services sector as well as the topics of immigration, transportation, water, economic development, tax policy and education.  Too often, health and human services state budget allocations have been the scraps and afterthoughts of the budget rather than a serious, comprehensive process of setting an agenda of what's needed to seriously address Arizona's social concerns. 

In order to provoke discussion and stimulate solutions, the Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition - PAFCO Education Fund recently published the Unfinished Agenda for Health and Human Services for Arizona.  This unique and unprecedented publication represents a new effort by the PAFCO boards to stimulate action on Arizona's most pressing social and health concerns. 

Much like we must plan our transportation infrastructure, we must plan solutions for the future for our most vulnerable families.  Downloadable copies are available at the PAFCO website.    http://www.pafcoalition.org/pdf/45104_PAFC_complete.pdf

Comments (0) 03-25-2008

February 22, 2008

The Senate and House Appropriations Committees passed new appropriations bills this past week.  By most accounts, these bills will not proceed through the process for any votes unless radically modified by leadership.  But we must take action to assure we stop these bills.

PLEASE CONSIDER THESE TALKING POINTS AND TAKE ACTION.

�         While these bills finally acknowledge the need for and protect some health and human services, these bills are still clearly a wrong approach and unacceptable. 

�         For example: these bills propose to essentially eliminate General Assistance, reduce Healthy Families child abuse prevention by $1.5 million,  reduce the Independent Living Stipend for foster children by $1 million - bad for our foster youth,   eliminate the Summer Youth Employment & Training for $1.2 million.  The Housing Trust Fund is swept for $12 million.  Neither the Department of Economic Security supplemental appropriation nor the Department of Health Services supplemental for 2008 are not addressed leaving many services for vulnerable families, foster children and vulnerable adults at serious risk.

�         Moreover, the worse part of these bills is their mixed bag of lump sum cuts forced on the health and human services agencies combined with designated protected programs without using any bonding for schools.  This will force deeper and more draconian cuts to remaining programs like Adult Protective Services, domestic violence shelter and services, aging home and community based independent living programs, vocational rehabilitation match programs, child care programs, and public health programs. 

�         THE SAFETY NET BECOMES EVEN MORE CRITICAL IN ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS.  And will be more critical the longer and deeper any downturn continues as it impacts more poor and vulnerable families and adults.

�         And we know from Nobel Prize economists' analysis, that reducing services for low income services people is one of the worst things you can do to a state's economy.  (CBPP News Release January 17, 2002)

�         Reasonable options include: Bonding for school construction financing, use of the raining day, rollover of school operations funding, careful fund sweeps, and careful cuts avoiding slash and burn across the board cuts which can devastate programs and put children and families at risk. 

�         Reasonable people will not balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable, children and vulnerable adults.   All other options will be exercised first.

Comments (0) 03-25-2008

February 15, 2008

February 8, 2008

February 1, 2008

New Budget Scenarios -- There are reasonable options?  Have you contacted your legislators yet?  Let them know not to make cuts to health and human services.

Apparently both the public process, that is the Joint Appropriations hearings on the 2008 and 2009 budgets AND the basement leadership meetings on the budget are not making much progress resolving the state budget situation. 

So as of today, the emerging budget scenario looks something like this:

• House and Senate Appropriations bills will be introduced based on a combination of Chairman's recommendations and JLBC recommendations containing severe cuts.
• These bills will be heard and passed with amendments in respective chambers appropriations committees --- timeframe over next couple of weeks.
• These bills will not move on to the floor in either chamber for any votes.
• House and Senate leadership from both parties will get down to serious negotiations behind closed doors considering more reasonable approaches and solutions.
• Stay tuned --- over the next couple of weeks this scenario could play out or change.  But we all must remain calm; the bills passed by the Appropriations committees will not be the final word or the final action at all.
• Yes, the state is experiencing some very serious revenue issues for both 2008 and 2009.  But some of this is created by the accumulation of tax cuts for last 10-12 years, which has effectively eliminated up to $2 billion dollars of annual revenue without protecting the state from an economic downturn.
• Draconian cuts are not necessary. Tough decisions must be made, but we must not balance the budget on the backs of children and other vulnerable persons.  Critical programs for vulnerable persons must be protected. 

THERE ARE REASONABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE BUDGET DEFICITS

Reasonable options include: bonding for school construction financing, use of the rainy day fund, rollover of school operations funding, careful fund sweeps, and careful cuts avoiding slash and burn across the board cuts which can devastate programs and put children and families at risk. 

Reasonable people will not panic or balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable.   All other options will be exercised first.

See the updated list below of proposed cuts and take action.  Send a letter and take action and call you legislators. 

Remember legislators who support health and human services need calls and support too. 

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PAFCO LEGISLATIVE PRESENCE

Come and join the PAFCO Weekly Legislative Presence

February 5 at 10:00am

Come and hold your legislators accountable!

YOUR CITIZEN ACTION REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

 WRITE THAT LETTER AND MAKE THAT CALL.

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):

Your Representative (if you live in Arizona)

Your State Senator (if you live in Arizona)

Children's Action Alliance has provided this easy to use letter process to communicate with your legislators this week. 

Please take a few moments NOW to send a message to your Arizona legislators and help to protect Arizona's children from severe and lasting cuts to critical programs!

Be sure to let your legislators know that school bonding is viable good solution. 

Call your senator and representatives and urge them to protect health and human services!

The message is clear

I am constituent from your district

Don't cut health and human services.  Put people, children and families first.

Exercise rational options like bonding, rainy day fund and reasonable cuts that don't hurt people.

Be sure to thank your legislators and also ask how they intend to vote on health and human services. 

Will they protect the most vulnerable from harm?

How Do I Find Or Contact My Legislators?

• If you know your legislators, click here.
• If you do not know your legislators:
• Click here to find the legislative district you live in by entering your address and digit zip code located at the top right corner:
• Return to the ALIS Homepage and click the MEMBERS link.

HIGHLIGHTS AND IMPACTS OF BUDGET CUTS OPTIONS (Updated January 28, 2008)

AHCCCS

• Reduce KidsCare Children Income Eligibility - reduces eligibility for KidsCare from 200% of the federal poverty level to 175%. It would eliminate coverage for 19,235 children. $3.3 million in federal funds would also be lost.
• Reverse Eligibility Increase for SOBRA Pregnant Women - Lowers the income eligibility for SOBRA women from 150% of the federal poverty level to 133%. Approximately 677 pregnant women would lose eligibility. ($600,000)
• Eliminate HPV Vaccine Funding - Eliminates the increased funding to provide human papilomavirus (HPV) to AHCCCS members 21-26 years old. The vaccine protects against 4 strains of HPV, considered to cause 70% of cervical cancer cases.  ($2,869,100)
• HealthCare Group Subsidy. - Reduces $8 million FY 08 appropriation to compensate plans for extraordinary FY 07 losses. Thousands with no other options for health care could lose health care. 
• Lump Sum funding reductions would result in elimination of 314 positions; lengthen eligibility processes, reducing quality control oversight and administrative capacity and loss of federal funds.  AHCCCS caseloads are growing because of the economic downturn. 
• Eliminate Dual Eligible Part D Copay Subsidy for an estimated 99,827 dual eligible members on AHCCCS. Copay subsidy has been for acute & long-term care members.
• Defer Replacement of AHCCCS Claims Computer System - New funds were appropriated in FY 08 to start replacing the claims system.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

• Reduce Community Health Centers Funding - These funds provide grants to 19 community health centers to provide primary health care services to uninsured persons below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. This option would eliminate funding for 33,000 visits.  ($4,500,000)
• Reverse Health Care Licensure Staffing Increase - Returns the Health Care Licensure funding to the FY 06 levels.  Eliminates 11 positions in the Child Care Division which already has backlog of approximately 344 facilities where the license expired prior to a renewal survey being conducted.  Could result in harm to children and reduction in options for families trying to maintain work.  ($1,395,900)
• High Risk Perinatal Services Funding. Reduces nurse visits to 4,000 babies at high risk from 4/year to 2 or less per year.  Program covers transportation for critically ill newborns & pregnant women, pays for care of the ill newborns & training of MDs for screening of developmental programs.  Returns program to '06 funding level.
• Eliminates the funds added in FY 07 to provide specialized anti-meth curriculum. The contract for this program was awarded to the Boys and Girls Clubs.  ($500,000) 
• HPV Vaccine Increase - New funds were added in FY 08 to provide human papilomavirus (HPV) vaccines to young women who are not eligible for AHCCCS. The vaccine protects against 4 strains of HPV, considered to cause 70% of cervical cancer cases.
• Senior Food Program reduces funding to individuals >60 at or below 130% FPL.  The 2 programs serve 14,000 seniors a month with state funds adding 1,000 food baskets/month.  Seniors; Market provides $30 coupon which will be reduced by about 5,000 with reduction. 

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

• Eliminate the General Assistance Program entirely cutting services to 1,300 people with disabilities.  This transition program is critical to these individuals and could result in more homelessness and other public agency dependencies.
• Reversing last year's increase in monthly independent living stipend given to 320 foster children aging out of the foster care system to help them succeed in school and in life.
• Reverse Joint Substance Abuse Increase eliminating substance abuse treatment for 1800 parents, guardians, or custodians whose substance abuse is a barrier to preserving the family. Eliminating these funds would result in more CPS intervention and the potential for children in these families being removed to foster care.  ($2,000,000)
• Reduce Healthy Families Funding - This program provides services to children less than 5 years of age and their families and is designed to prevent child abuse or neglect and promote child development and wellness. In the past, unutilized Healthy Families Funds have been used to reduce the Children Services shortfall. If these funds are removed, it will increase the supplemental request for Children Services.
• Eliminate LTC Dental Services serving an estimated 19,500 clients. Program expanded in '07.  ($1,000,000)
• Eliminate Life Span Respite Care funding eliminating services to 100 families. ($500,000)
• Reduce Childcare Eligibility to 145% FPL - Eliminates serves to 3,200 children who were receiving $260/month subsidy. ($4,931,800)
• Rollback Visually Impaired Services Increase - Would provide technology assistance,
• Adaptive aids & devices, home modifications & independent living skills training. Reduced would result in 1,500 fewer clients served, 1,700 fewer eye exams & 1,200 fewer glasses. ($500,000)
• Other rollbacks on the list include recent Elder Care funding; domestic violence funding and homeless support services funding, all critical services. 
• Lump Sum Reductions would significantly impact child welfare and family services resulting:  5,000 children lose child care & a waiting list would be established, 3,000 families lose in-home child welfare services, 800 people with developmental disabilities will be put on waiting list, & 900 lose substance abuse services.  Staff reductions include:  140 fewer CPS case managers and other staff, 670 fewer staff at eligibility functions, 10% reduction in APS case managers, & 80 staff in child support.  There will be a lose in federal funds & significantly longer waits to get eligibility completed.
• Eliminate Summer Youth Employment and Training are no longer available used last summer.  ($1,250,000)
• Eliminate DES IT Eligibility Project - Eliminates funding to replace DES's three case management/eligibility systems with a single, integrated system. Replacing these 30-year old systems would improve worker productivity and accuracy and is estimated to save $10 million GF per year for 30 years when completed. ($1,300,000)

Department of Housing

HOUSING TRUST FUND - Eliminate all HTF (sweep $55 million) related programs for approximately the next year and a half. The proposal would also cripple the Arizona Housing Finance Authority, which has been highly successful in assisting rural first time homebuyers and result in the significant reduction or elimination of these types of services: 

• Mortgage foreclosure & eviction prevention assistance will stop a time of critical need.
• homeownership and rental housing development/rehabilitation
• homeless and domestic violence shelter development  (6000 families lose services)
• down payment and closing cost assistance for first time homebuyers (500 families don't get houses)
• fair-housing education
• Matching monies for federal housing programs administered by the state.
• 3,600 jobs are lost with $91 million in wages lost and $18 million in state revenues.

January 21, 2008

January 11, 2008