Here's the latest from Olympia!
Considering the challenges of this difficult economic time, many positive decisions in favor of hunger-relief programs were made by our state Senators last week in Olympia. The Senate Early Action for the Supplemental Budget, ESHB 1086, had a hearing on February 2nd and passed their plan for a budget on Friday, February 4th. Like the House bill, this bill also doesn't close the full budget gap for 2011, but makes $394 million in reductions, reversions, and fund transfers towards closing the gap. The final budget needs to be passed by both House and Senate. The legislature is finishing work on the 2011 supplemental budget and then will move to the 2011-2013 budget. With your continued effort to make your voice heard more favorable choices for basic needs will be made throughout this legislative session.
Here are the updates for Food Lifeline's priority items:
• DSHS State Food Assistance Program (food stamp look-a-like for legal immigrants and refugees)-The same as the House, the Senate Supplemental Budget also contains $4.8 million for State Food Assistance through the end of June 2011. This is half of the total estimated to be needed to sustain current benefits and current recipients. However, with this program under threat of complete elimination, it was your voice that saved this program from complete elimination and persuaded both the House and the Senate to allocate some financial resources for this critical hunger-relief program.
• WSDA food programs (EFAP, TEFAP, CSFP)- The same as the House proposal, the Senate budget document makes an administrative reduction of $241K to the “Department of Agriculture, Reduce Food Program Administration,” in large part by maintaining vacancies in administration. The Senate proposal aslo stated specifically that grants for the programs will not be reduced.
• Maternity Support Services- The service dollars for MSS were cut the same dollar amount in both House and Senate. Both the House and the Senate cut the program by 35 %, after the House added funds to the original proposal for this important program. There is concern that these cuts will have negative effects on both the women and children served and on the clinics that offer these services. However, priority will be placed heavily on pregnant women with the highest risk of negative birth outcomes.
Considering the challenges of this difficult economic time, many positive decisions in favor of hunger-relief programs were made by our state Senators last week in Olympia. The Senate Early Action for the Supplemental Budget, ESHB 1086, had a hearing on February 2nd and passed their plan for a budget on Friday, February 4th. Like the House bill, this bill also doesn't close the full budget gap for 2011, but makes $394 million in reductions, reversions, and fund transfers towards closing the gap. The final budget needs to be passed by both House and Senate. The legislature is finishing work on the 2011 supplemental budget and then will move to the 2011-2013 budget. With your continued effort to make your voice heard more favorable choices for basic needs will be made throughout this legislative session.
Here are the updates for Food Lifeline's priority items:
• DSHS State Food Assistance Program (food stamp look-a-like for legal immigrants and refugees)-The same as the House, the Senate Supplemental Budget also contains $4.8 million for State Food Assistance through the end of June 2011. This is half of the total estimated to be needed to sustain current benefits and current recipients. However, with this program under threat of complete elimination, it was your voice that saved this program from complete elimination and persuaded both the House and the Senate to allocate some financial resources for this critical hunger-relief program.
• WSDA food programs (EFAP, TEFAP, CSFP)- The same as the House proposal, the Senate budget document makes an administrative reduction of $241K to the “Department of Agriculture, Reduce Food Program Administration,” in large part by maintaining vacancies in administration. The Senate proposal aslo stated specifically that grants for the programs will not be reduced.
• Maternity Support Services- The service dollars for MSS were cut the same dollar amount in both House and Senate. Both the House and the Senate cut the program by 35 %, after the House added funds to the original proposal for this important program. There is concern that these cuts will have negative effects on both the women and children served and on the clinics that offer these services. However, priority will be placed heavily on pregnant women with the highest risk of negative birth outcomes.
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