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Washington Association of Churches
ADVOCACY ALERT
February 15, 2001
GOVERNOR PROPOSES HUGE CUTS IN WORK-FIRST PROGRAM
Another whammy hit Washington State residents this week
with the shock of an earthquake. Governor Gary Locke announced a huge cut of about $54 million in
Work- First expenditures. The reductions in areas such as subsidized child care are devastating to working poor families seeking to lift themselves out
of poverty.
There will be a reduction of $7.5 million in education and training programs at state community and technical colleges.
The demand for WorkFirst welfare reform program has increased in recent months, but the money is not available to meet the need.
Then Tuesday, the next state revenue forecast is expected to show that the shortfall will be another $200 million, jumping the budget shortfall to $1.4
billion instead of $1.2 billion.
So, legislators will have some crucial choices--make even deeper cuts, find other ways to balance the budget, raise revenues. It is clear that
Washington State needs to fund needed human services. For example, a high quality welfare to work program MUST be adequately funded and that includes
education and training and childcare. And, it must be a goal not just to get folks off welfare, but to get them out of poverty.
Another vital state-funded program that Critical Support for Disabled Persons: General
Assistance-Unemployable GA-U). GA-U assists DISABLED Washington State residents with $339 a month cash grant
and medical coverage. This program helps 18,000 persons in our state who are unemployable due to a physical or mental disability.
Elimination or cuts un the GA-U program will lead to increased homlessness, and have an impact on our hospitals, the criminal justice system, and mental
health system.
ACTION:
Call Governor Gary Locke and your state senator and state representatives on the toll-free Legislative Hotline 1-800-562-6000 with the following message:
"Please do NOT eliminate or cut the GA-U Program; don't cut human services, and find new revenue."
Roger Yockey, Public Policy Advocate rysolidarity@aol.com
Sara Merten, Public Policy Associate merten@thewac.org
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