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January 11, 2008
Draconian Budget Cuts proposed --- Session begins January 14
The 2008 Legislature will officially begin Monday January 14. However, this past week the Joint Appropriations Committee held hearings regarding the 2008 budget deficit.The Appropriation's Chairmen's budget options seriously put on the table:
- Elimination of the General Assistance impacting 1,300 people with disabilities.
- Curtailing KIDSCARE health care for almost 12,000 low income children.
- Cutting critical substance abuse services for 1,800 families.
- Cutting independent living support for 300 young adults, former foster children trying to make it working or in school.
- Eliminating co-pay prescription support for thousands of low income elders and people with disabilities.
- Curtailing community health centers eliminating 33,000 visits for low income families who other cannot access health care.
- Force lump sum reductions across the board in DES, AHCCCS and DHS resulting in cutting CPS workers, in home services preventing more expensive foster care, AHCCCS eligibility staff delaying health care, adult dental services, curtailing vaccinations and other public health services.
- This is just short partial list. Detailed lists will be available next week on Children Action Alliance website and the PAFCO website at www.pafcoaliton.org
PAFCO STRONGLY OPPOSES THESE AND OTHER PROPOSED CUTS TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. We do not have to destroy people's lives when viable reasonable solutions and options are available.
"We support the rational managed approach with use of the rainy day fund, school capital finance bonding, and strategic targeted cuts proposed by the Governor. Protection of the vulnerable is key. We support the protection of critical health and safety programs and children's programs proposed by the Governor. We also support the Governor's protection of services for vulnerable adults such as health care, treatment, and protection."
Needs increase in hard times. Health and human services demand is typically counter cyclical to economic growth and progress. In economic downturns, too often, families living on the margins are the first to experience greater hardships beyond their current demands of low wages jobs, poverty, substandard housing, hunger or inadequate health care. Many families may lose jobs, or health care coverage, and experience increased stress. PAFCO 2008 Legislative Statement
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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!
Call your senator and representatives and urge them to protect health and human services!
The message is clear
- 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.
PAFCO LEGISLATIVE PRESENCE
Come and join the PAFCO Weekly Legislative Presence
First week January 15 at 9am
House Lawn for morning briefing.
Leadership will be provided by Recovery Empowerment Network
Come and hold your legislators accountable!