HHS Network Responds to ‘Big 5′ Budget Deal
The HHS Network of California is pleased that a deal has been reached to end this record-setting impasse, while also preventing the worst of the Governor’s proposal to slash $5.4 billion from basic health care and social services for the millions of Californians who need help due to age, disability or the Great Recession. We appreciate the efforts of legislative leaders to come to an agreement on a budget that would not once again balance the entire burden of the state’s $19 billion budget deficit on the backs of seniors, people with disabilities, children and families.
As a result of this deal, dozens of vital programs targeted by the Governor will remain largely intact, and will continue to provide the necessary, cost-effective services that California’s seniors, families, children, and people with disabilities need, including:
- Healthy Families
- Cal-Works
- IHSS
- Adult Day Health Care
- Medi-Cal
- Black Infant Health program
- Every Woman Counts breast cancer screening
However, given the severity of the economic situation that is gripping California, the HHS Network strongly believes that we must invest in health and human services in order to create and maintain jobs and provide essential health care and human services where jobs are scarce.
“We must also take steps to prevent extremists from blocking the passage of a state budget by passing reforms such as Proposition 25, which would allow the state to pass a responsible budget on time through a majority vote. We must also take advantage of opportunities for much-needed revenues, including rescinding last year’s shameful giveaways to some of the wealthiest corporations operating in California, as stipulated in Proposition 24.
Finally, we also urge Governor Schwarzenegger to refrain from using his line-item veto power to make any further cuts once a deal is passed. This would not only undermine the compromise that legislators have agreed to, but would also cost the state hundreds of thousands of jobs and once again force the burden on the backs of California’s families, seniors, children and people with disabilities.
