[HCCN] Stand Against Devastating Budget Cuts on May 15th in Augusta

[Larry Dansinger]

For those who oppose budget cuts that especially affect low income  
Mainers.

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Maine Equal Justice <rmerrill at mejp.org>
> Date: May 10, 2012 7:00:31 PM EDT
> To: rosc at psouth.net
> Subject: DATE CORRECTION: Stand Against Devastating Budget Cuts on  
> May 15th
> Reply-To: rmerrill at mejp.org
>
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>
>
> Stand Up for Maine People: Stand Against Devastating and  
> Unnecessary Budget Cuts
> Today Republican legislators released details of a supplemental  
> budget they negotiated with the Governor.  This budget makes  
> devastating cuts to seniors, children and other vulnerable Mainers.
>
> STAND UP AGAINST THESE BUDGET CUTS AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD:  
> Lawmakers in Augusta need to know that cuts to these vital programs  
> will have a devastating impact and are inexcusable!
>
> NOW: Contact your legislators to urge them to vote NO on the  
> majority budget next Tuesday, May 15th, 2012. Tell them that this  
> budget is devastating and irresponsible.  It will harm vulnerable  
> populations in Maine, including seniors, working families and  
> children.
>
> TUESDAY, MAY 15th, 2012 (9:30 AM): Come to the State House in  
> Augusta to show your opposition to these budget proposals. We need  
> to let lawmakers know that Maine people oppose these irresponsible  
> budget cuts.
>
> The following list provides some of the most damaging and  
> irresponsible initiatives.
> 	
>
>
>
>  Cuts that will harm seniors and people with disabilities:
>
> Cuts the Drugs for the Elderly Program (DEL) that helps seniors and  
> people with disabilities afford their prescription drugs by  
> eliminating eligibility for people between 175-185% FPL of the  
> poverty level. These are individuals with serious health conditions  
> such as diabetes, heart disease and Lou Gehrig's disease.
> Cuts the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) that helps seniors and  
> people with disabilities pay for prescription drugs and health care  
> costs;
> o   This cut will eliminate all help paying for Medicare Part B and  
> Part D premiums; payments for co-insurance and deductibles; and  
> support through the donut hole for people between 175-185% FPL.  
> This cut combined with the cut to DEL above will eliminate help for  
> 1,850 people.
>
> o    This cut will eliminate help paying for Medicare Part A and B  
> deductibles and co-insurance for 3,799 people between 140-150% FPL.  
> These costs can add up to over $1,300 a year plus 20% of all non- 
> hospital services.
>
> Cuts that will harm low-income children and families:
>
> ·         Eliminates MaineCare coverage for another 14,500 low- 
> income working parents (those with income between 100-133% FPL). As  
> part of a compromise earlier this session, the legislature already  
> voted to eliminate coverage for 14,000 working parents between  
> 133-200% FPL.  This would double the amount of parents who will  
> have coverage stripped from them and targets parents who are  
> struggling with even fewer resources.
>
> Cuts to many programs supported by the Fund for a Healthy Maine,  
> including:
> o   Cuts $2M of funding for Head Start, which means that 216 very  
> young children will no longer have access to Head Start and the  
> vital supports it provides to these children and their families.  
> Head Start is an investment in these children's future, as it  
> provides early care and education, as well as health, nutrition,  
> mental health, social and family supports;
>
> o  Cuts nearly $2M of funding for the Child Care Subsidy Program.   
> This will lead to a deep cut in the availability of child care  
> vouchers for families with incomes below 250% FPL and will  
> negatively impact 1,400 children. The child care subsidy program  
> helps parents with low income to afford the child care they need in  
> order to work;
>
> o  Eliminates funding ($2.6 M) for the Maine Families Home Visiting  
> Program, which will eliminate vital services for Maine's most  
> vulnerable infants and children.  Approximately 750 families will  
> lose services focused on family substance abuse, domestic violence,  
> prevention of abusive head trauma, and the health and safety of  
> children;
>
>  o  Eliminates funding ($401,430) for Family Planning; and
>
> o  Eliminates $300,000 for dental services for people with low  
> incomes and no other source of dental help.
>
> Cuts that will harm low-income young adults:
> The complete elimination of MaineCare coverage for 7,000 young  
> adults (19 and 20 year olds) who are under 150% of the poverty  
> level. Although most uninsured young adults work full-time,  
> employment is typically in low-wage jobs, for small firms, and in  
> industries where employer-sponsored insurance is less likely to be  
> provided. As a result, low-income young adults have little  
> financial ability to purchase health coverage and are far more  
> likely to be uninsured than other age groups. This proposal will  
> increase Maine's uninsured rolls by over 7,000 people.
>
> STAND UP AGAINST THESE BUDGET CUTS AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD:  
> Lawmakers in Augusta need to know that cuts to these vital programs  
> will have a devastating impact and are inexcusable!
>
> NOW: Contact your legislators to urge them to vote NO on the  
> majority budget next Tuesday, May 15th, 2012.
>
> To find out who your legislator is and their contact info, go to  
> the Maine.gov Voter Lookup Website. Fill out your address and town.  
> When the next page pops up, click on elected official tab and that  
> will give you phone number and e-mail for your legislators. Send a  
> quick, short e-mail or call your legislator.
>
> TUESDAY, MAY 15th, 2012 (9:30 AM): Come to the State House in  
> Augusta to show your opposition to these budget proposals. We need  
> to let lawmakers know that Maine people oppose these irresponsible  
> budget cuts.
>
>  If you have any questions please reply to this message or contact  
> us toll free at (866)626-7069, ext. 207.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Robyn Merrill
> Maine Equal Justice Partners
>
>
>
>
>
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