JRLC e-Xpress June 19

Governor's Unallotment
Yesterday the Governor's staff met with the Legislative Advisory Commission to explain the Governor's unallotment plan. Remember, this all came about because the Governor signed the omnibus appropriation bills but vetoed the tax bill. The legislature failed to override the veto, coming up 5 votes short. With the state budget out of balance, the Governor is now asserting his authority to shift and unallot funds.

His unallotment plan includes additional cuts to human services on top of the almost $500 million in cuts made by the legislature and the $381 million the governor eliminated for health care for the poorest adults in his line-item veto of the General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) program.  In total, the cuts to Health and Human Services for the coming two years are now over $1 billion.

The unallotment plan for Human Services include:

• General Assistance Medical Care will now end on March 1, 2010, 2 months earlier than the Governor's previous line item veto ($15 million cut)
• Elimination of Emergency General Assistance (EGA) and Emergency Minnesota Supplemental Assistance (EMSA) for those who are unemployable or disabled ($15 million)
• Reduction in children and community service grants ($39 million)
• Lowering of asset limits to be eligible for key services ($6.1 million)
• Funding Transitional MNCare from Health Care Access Fund instead of General Fund ($37.5 million and loss of federal funds)
• 5% supplementary service rate reduction to Group Residential Housing, which funds homeless shelters and long-term housing ($1.8 million)
• Reduction to county mental health grants ($8.1 million)
• Elimination of three specific chemical dependency grants ($1.4 million)

The Governor's plan also hits low income renters hard- many of whom are elderly or disabled.  The renters' credit is a refund to 275,000 low and moderate income renters whose property taxes take up a large share of their income.

The whole unallotment plan can be found by clicking here.

In sum, this method of budget-balancing represents a staggering undermining of what has been our public commitment to neighbors-in-need. Therefore:

Faithful Minnesota Rally Tuesday, June 30, 10:30 – 11:30 AM
State Capitol, St. Paul
Minnesota people of faith are gathering for a witness of lament on the morning of Tuesday, June 30 to beg Governor Tim Pawlenty not to abandon the health of Minnesota’s citizens, especially those most in need.

Gather at Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, 105 University Avenue, St. Paul, by 10:15 am.  We will stage in congregational groups and process in a somber, funeral-like procession beginning at 10:30 am.  Please wear black and bring old flowers and notes to the governor expressing your faith-based concern about these budget decisions.

We will process down Martin Luther King Blvd, cross and gather on the South steps of the Capitol.  Please deposit your flowers and cards in the baskets provided.   A delegation will deliver the cards and letter to the Governor’s office.

Speakers will include Bishop Peter Rogness, Saint Paul Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; and Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman, Temple Israel Minneapolis; as well as the Rev. Peg Chemberlin, Executive Director of the Minnesota Council of Churches and Rev. Grant Abbott, Executive Director of the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches.

JRLC supports this event which is being organized by the Minnesota Council of Churches.  For more information contact Gail Anderson, Unity and Relationships Organizer, Minnesota Council of Churches,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 612-230-3210.

Day on the Hill
We appreciate the number of you who've been asking! The answer is: Thursday March 25, 2010!