States Slashing Social Programs for Vulnerable

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

PHOENIX — Battered by the recession and the deepest and most widespread budget deficits in several decades, a large majority of states are slicing into their social safety nets — often crippling preventive efforts that officials say would save money over time.

President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package is helping to alleviate some of the pain, providing large amounts of money to pay for education and unemployment insurance, bolster food stamp programs and expand tax credits for low earners. But the money will offset only 40 percent of the losses in state revenues, and programs for vulnerable groups have been cut in at least 34 states, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a private research group in Washington.

Perhaps nowhere have the cuts been more disruptive than in Arizona, where more than 1,000 frail elderly people are struggling without home-care aides to help with bathing, housekeeping and trips to the doctor. Officials acknowledge that some are apt to become sicker or fall, ending up in nursing homes at a far higher cost.

Ohio and other states face large cutbacks in child welfare investigations, which may mean more injured children and more taken into foster care. Despite tax increases, California has ended dental coverage for adults on Medicaid, all but guaranteeing future medical problems.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/us/12deficit.html?_r=1&hp

[bluestateguy]

1. What would happen if a state decided to ignore their constitution and deficit spend?

49 states require a balanced budget. But what if a state legislature and their governor decided that the cuts needed to balance the budget were too severe this year and they just did deficit spending anyway?

Would the legislators and the governor be sent to jail? If so, by who?

[hack89]

4. In Rhode Island there would be a revolt

because it would mean they have no intention of fixing the fucked up policies that got us in this mess in the first place.

[Wednesdays]

9. I'm not a lawyer, but I doubt anyone would go to jail

However, I'm sure the budgets would get tied up in the court system.

[Missy Vixen]

15. I can't speak to states, but I can talk about local government

When I was on our hometown's city council, there was a deficit in the utility fund. It's a long and involved story, but it was actually the fault of a former city councilperson who made an incorrect authorization. The upshot was that the city financial director explained we'd have to increase utility payments to pay it off, or she was resigning on the spot and retaining counsel. She didn't want to go to jail for someone else's mistake.

>Would the legislators and the governor be sent to jail? If so, by who?<

I'm wondering if the federal government gets involved at this point.

There could be unpleasant outcomes from simply ignoring the Constitution, too. Suppose a state decides they're just tired of that pesky First Amendment, for instance.

[williesgirl]

2. Thanks to asshole criminal Bush and his rich Repuke cronies. The effects of these cuts will last

years beyond when they finally re-fund them. rec'd

[ikojo]

3. Read The Shock Doctrine

In most countries it is social programs that suffer during times of economic adjustments.

[jwirr]

8. It always has been social programs that get cut first. Many of the clients

in these programs are often the people who either do not vote or are ineligible to vote. Politicians know there will not be blowback. When I go to the polls each time I tell them I am voting for two - myself and my severely disabled daughter. Because I am her legal guardian she cannot vote. In reality she is a bad example to use because she is severely developmentally disabled and there is reason to know that she would not be able to tell me who she wanted to vote for. However, I can make life and death decisions for her but not vote for her thus the cuts.

[defendandprotect]

11. Right . . . money they could be spending on private jets and yachts --- !!!

[winyanstaz]

5. This is what the Neocons wanted to happen...

There is a way to stop this. Legalize Marijuana and make the taxes collected go for social programs of each state ONLY.
Unless you can think of another way, we shall continue to see children and the vulnerable slide into further risk, hunger and death.

[Jefferson23]

6. This is terrible, the more living conditions deteriorate,

the more we'll hear of acts of desperation.

[Solly Mack]

7. K&R

[defendandprotect]

10. In the "Reagan" .... good old fashioned way . . .

Reagan pulled thousands of defenseless people off of disability ---

evidently the press knew that many were killing themselves!!

[caseymoz]

12. Just another sign we're in a depression.

Not a great one yet, but at this rate we'll get there by September.

[L0oniX]

13. Meanwhile you can bet no one in the states senate or management will taking a pay cut.

[corpseratemedia]

14. axe the healthcare of reps

im fucking sick of this 30 year old neo-reaganist eat the poor shit

take on people who can stand up to you, right-wing cowards

[doodadem]

16. What about state lotteries?

Whatever happened to state lotteries paying for a lot of stuff like this, as well as education? Where's all that money going?

We're in a major bind right now--I wrote a few weeks ago about my mom being diagnosed with mid-stage Alzheimer's. We finally found a really nice, brand new assisted living facility to get her and my dad into, that will accept Medicaid. Problem is, we are getting absolutely no response from Indiana Medicaid. We need to get a Medicaid waiver, and find out if they are going to let them keep anything at all from the sale of their home to help pay the rest of the expenses. The amount per month will take all of the waiver amount amount, all of their Social Security, and still leave us with $200 a month to come up with--not easy in these times. We're afraid we're going to lose the room because we cannot get answers or commitment.

The kicker? My dad is a WW II veteran, and has never collected any benefits. He would be eligible for it to pay costs, but it wouldn't kick in for six months, AND he can't get both Medicaid and VA benefits, they said. How stupid is that? The least they could do is pick up the amount we're short.