For Immediate Release: Lawmakers are coming to Virginia to discuss state budget deficit and Governor Pawlenty’s budget proposal
Lawmakers will be in Virginia at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 20th to get input on the governor’s budget recommendations and listen to the public’s ideas to address the state’s $4.8 billion budget deficit.
The public meeting will be at the Mesabi Range Community and Technical College, Small Auditorium, 1001 Chestnut St. W., Virginia.
Town Hall Meetings on Governor Pawlenty’s budget proposals and the state budget deficit will take place around the state on Thursday, Feb 19 and Friday, Feb 20, and in the Metro area Feb 23-26.
Visit either the House Town Hall Meetings or Senate Community Hearings page for more locations and to sign up to testify …and forward these links to family and friends across the state!
Message from Ready4K:
It is critical that supporters of young children attend the town hall forum in your community to express your support for early childhood care and education.
Key messages to share:
» The Governor’s proposed cuts are short sighted. While they may appear to help balance the budget in the short term, it perpetuates what Minnesota is currently dealing with—the choice “not to pay now so you have to pay later” scenario.
- See the Star Tribune editorial: Jay Kiedrowski: Accounting gimmicks won’t fix the budget
» The cuts proposed are potentially harmful for young children and their families. With increased co-pays and decreased reimbursement rates, families will be forced to put their young children in potentially harmful situations.
- “Although the Governor claims to “preserve coverage for children,” DHS estimates that 26,399 fewer children would be enrolled in state health care programs by FY 2011, ” Minnesota Budget Project.
» Many of these costs will have to be passed on to families, creating a situation where families have limited access to quality environments.
- Read the Minnesota Budget Project post on how the Governor’s budget would hit Minnesota families hard. (Insider Tip: the Minnesota Budget Project and Jermaine Toney will be at the March 16 Parent Summit in Saint Paul.)
» Combined with the massive cuts the Governor proposes to health care, lost child care assistance adds to the challenges families will have if this budget were adopted.
Child Care WORKS on Governor Pawlenty’s 2009-2010 Biennial Budget:
Governor Pawlenty’s budget for the next two state fiscal years includes the following proposals for child care:
» Reduce Child Care Assistance program provider reimbursement rates by 3% from current maximum rates;
» Raise family copayments by 3% for families receiving child care assistance;
» Limit retroactive eligibility for child care assistance to six months.
These proposals total over $10 million in funding reductions. The Governor also proposed extending current pilot projects (School Readiness Connections and ParentAware projects, but not the Pre-K allowances project) using unspent Basic Sliding Fee funds. He did not add any funds to reduce the waiting list for Child Care Assistance; currently there are about 7,000 families on the statewide waiting list.
Are you concerned about K-12?
Read the Minnesota Department of Education’s Summary of the Governor’s 2009 Education Budget Proposal and check the Excel file for local district impacts, and read what the Minnesota Budget Project has to say about the Governor’s recommended E-12 budget.
Related Article
February 15, 2009 - Lawmakers’ Range sessions set - In coming weeks, lawmakers accustomed to giving answers have set aside time to listen to local people’s suggestions for solutions of the state budget crisis. Friday, legislators will be coming through Northeast Minnesota, including a stop in Virginia, Mesabi Daily News.
Another Insider Tip: Prepare a written statement with your contact information you can give to the committee administrator should the schedule be too full for you to have a chance to speak, and check these resources from Parents United for tips on Preparing Testimony and Presenting Your Case when meeting with legislators.