Advocacy Without Borders: One Community

News Impacting People With Disabilities, Mental Health Needs, Seniors & others, including Asian Pacific Islanders, Latinos, African Americans communities across California and beyond - Reports go out to over 45,000 people with disabilities, seniors, mental health needs & others,  organizations, policy makers across California

REPLY TO: MARTY OMOTO 

 martyomoto@rcip.com   website:   www.cdcan.us

 REPORT #088-2008  -  APRIL 30, 2008 - WEDNESDAY

 

California Budget Crisis:

* GOVERNOR SAYS BUDGET GAP IS $20 BILLION

* WARNS OF MORE SPENDING CUTS

* URGES BUDGET REFORMS & SPENDING CAP

* CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING MAY 14th at 4 PM

* SECRETARY KIM BELSHE WILL BE GUEST

California Health & Human Services Agency Secretary to Give Update on Governor's Budget Changes Directly to People With Disabilities, Mental Health Needs, Seniors, Community Organizations and Workers

 

SACRAMENTO (CDCAN) - Citing the urgent need for budget reforms including a rainy day fund and a spending cap, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told business and local government leaders this week that California's budget crisis will likely get even worse, with a budget deficit that could swell to over $20 billion by the end of the 2008-2009 State Budget year, which ends June 30, 2009. That figure is at least $6 billion higher than what some legislative and other analysts think the budget gap will be, which some believe will be over $14 billion. 

 

Advocates Fear More Spending Cuts

Advocates fear that  the Governor's remarks are laying the groundwork for more bad news when he releases his budget changes or revisions on May 14th. Schwarzenegger Administration officials, while confirming that no final decisions have been made yet, say that if the State's financial picture worsens, major spending cuts are likely to a wide range of critical health and human services that impact children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, community organizations, workers and others.   The Governor has said that while he opposes raising taxes, he would be open to finding new sources of revenues. 

 

Legislature Holding Off On Most Of Governor's Spending Reduction Proposals  from January

The Legislature is waiting until after May 14th, when the Governor releases his budget changes and revisions (referred to as the "May Revise") before taking final action on proposed cuts to a wide range of services to children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, community organizations and workers including proposed 18% reduction in non-medical domestic and related hours for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), elimination of the cost of living owed June 1, 2009 for the state portion (SSP) of the SSI/SSP grants, proposed elimination of several Medi-Cal "optional benefits" including adult dental, proposed 10% cuts to Adult Protective Services, foster and adoption assistance programs that serve thousands of children with disabilities and special needs, proposed cuts to the Medi-Cal program.

 

CDCAN Townhall Telemeeting Set for May 14th 4 PM Featuring Kim Belshe

With May 14th a pivotal date that advocates and policymakers anxiously wait for, Kim Belshe, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency [pictured right] will be sole guest speaker on special CDCAN Townhall Telemeeting, scheduled just hours after the Governor releases his revised proposed budget.  The last appearance by Belshe in a CDCAN Townhall Telemeeting earlier this year drew well over 500 people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, families, workers and other advocates across the State.

 

Belshe, who is widely respected by policymakers and advocates, oversees most of the departments that fund or administer programs and services for children and adults with disabilities, including developmental disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, persons who are Blind, persons who are Deaf, people with Alzheimer's, MS and other disorders, their families, community organizations and workers.  Those programs include regional centers, developmental centers, In-Home Supportive Services, adoption and foster care programs, SSI/SSP, Adult Protective Services, programs that serve seniors under the Department of Aging, programs under the Department of Rehabilitation and more. 

 

Townhall telemeetings to be scheduled - give people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, workers - especially those on limited incomes, or with health needs and limited resources that prevent travel, to participate and find out directly from top policymakers and other advocates on critical issues.  . 

 

CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETINGS

 

MAY 14, 2008 (WEDNESDAY) 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM

GUEST: KIM BELSHE, Secretary, California Health & Human Services Agency

FOCUS: Update on Governor's changes to his proposed budget (called "May Revise") and its impact on children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, people with traumatic brain and other injuries, people with MS, Alzheimer's and their families, community organizations and workers who provide supports and services and others.