Fwd: Stop the Bishop / Republican Budget Death Panel!

by: Rayne

Mon Sep 21, 2009 at 21:46:44 PM EDT

Received the following missive from Henry Yanez by email today, passing it along in case you've not already read it elsewhere. (Follow below the jump.)

Death panel, indeed; perhaps the Dynamic Duo of Dillon and Bishop are beginning to realize they've gone too far. But don't assume they've clued in; make sure your state reps and senators hear from you about the potential havoc cuts may post to our state's welfare and security.

DEAR FRIENDS,

We all know our State is in dire financial straits and real solutions are needed but at what expense? Will it take the death of a senior citizen, a child, the weak, the disadvantaged, the “least among us” to realize we've gone too far?! Do we sacrifice the education of Michigan's future? Eight years later have we forgotten the lesson of 9/11, that disasters, natural or man made, can happen at any time. We need our police officers and firefighters!!

Below I have listed the proposed budget cuts. If enacted this may truly be a death panel for some and yet some Democrats, yes Democrats! have signed on to this madness, this heartless, soulless madness.

It's unfortunate that some will support these cuts strictly for their own personal gain. Keeping their precious representatives seat, moving over to the Senate or maybe the promise of a top spot in an imagined new Governors administration. Keep the government pay checks coming fellas and the gravy train rollin’. Heck, it beats getting a real job. Principles be damned!

Please, please! Call your Representative and Senator. Tell them to stop this madness, don’t vote for this budget! Do what’s right for ALL the citizens of Michigan. Then join me at the State capitol next week. Make those who would support this travesty of a budget walk “the gauntlet of shame”!

If you haven't seen his posting already, read what Lt. Governor John Cherry has to say about this at: http://www.peopleforcherry.com/blog/entry/i-bet-you-are-a-little-angry-too/

And to you Senator Bishop, I’m sorry if your party on Mackinaw Island doesn’t start on time.

See you in Lansing friends,

Henry

Henry Yanez
Chair
10th Congressional District Democratic Committee
(586) 933-2280

Education

Cut K-12 school funding by $110 per pupil, dropping the lowest foundation grant to $7,206 per student: $174 million. A waiver would be required from the federal government to keep stimulus education funds. 

Michigan Promise Grant college scholarship: $140 million. 

Grants to K-12 schools with declining enrollments: $20 million. 

Adolescent health centers in schools: $5 million. 

School readiness program (pre-schools): $104 million. 

Reduce adult education funding: $2.4 million. 

Great Parents Great Start ISD programs: $5 million. 

Funding to create smaller high schools: $8 million. 

Vocational education funding by 10 percent: $2 million. 

Math remediation grants: $1 million. 

Math/Science Centers and Health/Science Middle Colleges: $6 million. 

Michigan Youth ChalleNGe Academy, (program run by the Michigan National Guard for high school dropouts or near-dropouts): $1 million. 

Other college financial aid programs and scholarships: $48 million. 

Stop reimbursement for community colleges for property tax revenue lost because of renaissance zones: $4 million.

Family Assistance and other Human Services 

$10 per person per month cut in the Family Independence Program, dropping the maximum grant for a family of three receiving welfare to $462 per month: $31 million. 

Children's clothing allowance from $88 per child to $43 per child: $6 million. 

$14 per month cut to Supplemental Security Income, provides assistance to the elderly and people with disabilities who live independently: $30 million. 

Cut hours and provider rates for child day care: $80 million. 

Strong Families/Safe Children grants: $4 million. 

Families First program that helps train new parents: $1 million. 

Cut Department of Human Services field staff by 179: $16 million. 

Add fewer foster care workers, management and support staff at the Department of Human Services: $26 million. 

State Disability Assistance grant by $5 a month: $1 million.

Health Care

Non-Medicaid mental health services $54 million more than the governor recommended: $62 million. 

Payment rates to health care providers who treat Medicaid patients by 8 percent: $355 million. 

Move more people from nursing homes to community-based settings: $49 million. 

Mental health initiative for older residents and respite services for caregivers: $3 million. 

Cut substance abuse services by 5 percent: $1 million. 

Loans for health care providers who establish practices in medically underserved areas cut in half, as the governor recommended: $1 million. 

Reduce Healthy Michigan programs : infant mortality, minority health, poison control centers, senior nutrition services, diseases ranging from heart disease to arthritis: $20 million.

Other 

Revenue sharing payments to local governments (police, firefighters, other city services): $90 million. 

Cut Employment and Training support programs by 43.5 percent: $13 million. 

Close Adrian Training School for young women; close the Nokomis challenge Center and State Community Juvenile Justice Centers: $7 million.