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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
For Media Assistance
Proposal Would Force 500,000 Children Off of Health Coverage
SACRAMENTO, California — On behalf of the 100% Campaign and PICO California, Cathy Maupin, Executive Director of Children's Defense Fund California, issued the following statement on the Governor's May Revise announcement:
"Today, Governor Schwarzenegger outlined an irresponsible plan for filling the budget deficit with severe cuts that disproportionately impact children's health programs. California's working families are already struggling in this economic downturn, and these proposed cuts would be devastating for California's low-income children, taking away coverage from more than 500,000 currently-insured children.
"We are disappointed in the Governor's budget proposal and the position he is taking toward children's health coverage. This is a far cry from the words of a Governor who campaigned for election on the message of covering all kids and who was working to pass sweeping health care reforms just a few months ago.
"While we understand the state is facing a large budget gap, the budget must not be balanced on the backs of children and families. This will only add a greater burden to working parents and their children who are struggling in these tough economic times.
"Among other things, the Governor's proposed Quarterly Status Reports for Medi-Cal families, which the Assembly Budget Subcommittee rejected last month, is nothing more than a backdoor way to save money by making it harder for children to stay covered by Medi-Cal. His own Administration admits that more than 470,000 children will lose their coverage as a result of this backdoor move.
"Additionally, families in the Healthy Families program are looking at new limits on services and an increase in out-of-pocket costs, which add insult to injury for struggling working families who are already dealing with the high cost of gas, food, and housing.
"Children who lack health coverage are less likely to succeed in school and to get appropriate and timely care for manageable conditions, so these cuts will only deepen the state budget deficit in the future.
"As negotiations begin in earnest on the budget bill, we urge our elected officials to investigate other revenue alternatives in lieu of these devastating cuts, and reject any proposals that would devastate the health of California's children. Our budget situation requires our leaders to make tough decisions on our state's priorities. Children's health must remain a top priority in the Capitol this year."
The 100% Campaign, a collaborative
effort of Children Now, Children's Defense Fund and The
Children's Partnership, was created to ensure that all
of California's children obtain the health coverage they
need to grow up strong and healthy.
The PICO California Project is the united effort
of 20 California congregation-community organizations
affiliated with the PICO National Network. Collectively,
we represent 350 congregations and 400,000 families statewide
and are actively organizing in over 70 cities in Northern
and Southern California.
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