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Report from NOW lobbyist on special session.

From Karen Woodall

The following is a press release put out by the House Democrats prior to the final vote on the Senate budget on Tuesday.  The dynamics in Tallahassee have been interesting, to put it mildly!  

While we supported the call to vote against the Senate budget because of deep cuts into programs that affect Florida's most vulnerable, the Senate budget was a better choice than the House Budget.  This is because the Senate delays cuts until July 1, 2002 in most health and human service areas by using non-recurring revenue.  This means that we will have to be diligent about getting the funding restored with recurring revenue during the regular Session.

One after the other the Republican leadership in the House stood on the floor during the budget debate and said that "cuts were not being made, this was just a slow down in growth".... It was then stated that over the past 4 or 5 years things had been really good here in Florida and all of these social service programs had received a lot of funding (it was not mentioned that the money was simply restoring massive cuts in to the base made in the early 90's or that we have never adequately funded anything...), so this was just a "pot hole in the road" that wasn't going to hurt people at all.  Furthermore the Democrats were chastized for even talking about babies dying or people losing health care.....

So, not to worry, this is about a "slow down in growth" - which actually is a true statement for the low-birth weight babies who will be born to the pregnant women who live between 150% and and 185% of the Federal Poverty level and will lose their access to medical treatment July 1st.  It probably will ring true for the Senior citizens who will lose their dentures on the same date - can't eat, can't grow -  yeah, maybe that's what they were all talking about!!!!!!!



THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER TO YOUR LEGISLATORS IS TO RAISE THE REVENUE!

They need to hear that you support repeal of the intangibles tax and more importantly that you support repealing existing sales tax exemptions that are unfair and and cause the state to lose billions (yes billions) of dollars in much needed revenue.  IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BOMBARD HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND THE GOVERNOR, THE MEDIA NEEDS SPECIFIC EXAMPLES WITH REAL PEOPLE WHO WILL LOSE SERVICES....Thank the Senate for their willingness to repeal the intangibles and urge them to lead the charge on getting rid of unfair tax exemptions to generate ADDITIONAL revenue.  The lobbyists for these exemptions will begin their campaign to keep their "special breaks" and it is an election year and their clients give bick bucks in contributions.....



HOUSE DEMOCRATS SAY REJECT SENATE BUDGET BILL THAT HURTS VULNERABLE PEOPLE, CUTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AND THREATENS PUBLIC SAFETY

TALLAHASSEE - House Democrats today urged their colleagues in the Florida House of Representatives to reject the Senate's budget cut proposal because it threatens to end services for Florida's needy pregnant women, families and seniors, cuts public schools and threatens efforts to keep communities safe and secure. House Democratic Leader Lois Frankel said the Senate budget cut bill to address the state's $1.3 billion revenue shortfall is deficient because it "balances the budget on the back of some of Florida's most needy citizens, takes a step backwards for public schools and threatens public safety."
"The only responsible vote on this bad budget bill is a 'no' vote," House Democratic Leader Frankel said. "All across the board, for public schools, for vulnerable citizens, for seniors and for public safety, this budget cut proposal doesn't reflect Florida's values. It's clear we need to take a more responsible approach that balances our budget while responsibly meeting the priorities of Florida's people."

Some of the devastating cuts included in the Senate budget proposal:

Health Care

·       Threaten the health of 5,150 pregnant women who, on July 1, 2002, will lose health care services including hospital inpatient and outpatient services, physician services and clinic services through a reduction in the income standard for Medicaid eligibility.
·       Put 36,300 adults at risk when they lose services under the Medically Needy program on July 1, 2002 including prescription drugs, hospital inpatient and outpatient services and physician services.
·       Take away the opportunity for 23,000 needy senior citizens to receive prescription assistance by cutting $22.5 million from the prescription drug assistance program.
·       Reduce efforts to keep seniors in our communities and out of nursing homes.
·       Take away eligibility from 92,000 underprivileged adults in need of dental, visual and hearing services from receiving this assistance from the state on July 1, 2002 - adding pressure to hospital emergency rooms, non-profit organizations and local charities to meet the need.
·       Threaten healthy futures for young people by reducing the state's landmark tobacco pilot program by $14.5 million.
·       Reduce services for people with autism.
·       Eliminate the $3 million ''Up or Out'' program designed to send specially trained medical personnel to low-performing nursing homes.

Education

·       Cut $146 million in funding to K-12 public schools.
·       Eliminate $5 million from School Readiness programs for pre-school children.
·       Cut $28 million from state universities.
·       Cut $15 million from student financial assistance including eliminating funding for Bright Futures scholarships for the 2002 summer term.
·       Eliminate $55.2 million for fee waivers for graduate school students.
·       Cut $22 million from community colleges.
·       Cut $37 million from workforce development programs.
·       Reduce funding for education services for blind citizens.

Safe and Secure Communities

·       Reduce funding for new juvenile detention center and bed facilities.
·       Cut juvenile delinquency prevention programs by $8.6 million - reducing the state's commitment to prevent crime by investing in front-end strategies that ensure at-risk young people are on the right path toward success.
·       Cut hundreds of correctional probation officers - the front-line employees who help protect the safety and security of Florida's residents and visitors.
·       Reduce funding for treatment of sexually violent predators.
·       Reduce substance abuse treatment programs in the prison system - a critical component of keeping inmates from returning to prison by reducing drug dependence.

Leader Frankel noted that the budget cut proposal removes $300 million from the state's $940 million Budget Stabilization Fund, without establishing a way to repay the funds, as required by the Florida Constitution.

"The refusal by Speaker Feeney to take up the Senate repeal of last session's imprudent intangible tax bill makes the Senate budget proposal fiscally unsound and does not reflect the values of Floridians," Leader Frankel said.

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HOUSE DEMOCRATS SAY LEGISLATURE’S BUDGET CUTS HURT VULNERABLE PEOPLE, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SAFETY

October .30 ,.2001

TALLAHASSEE - Saying the budget cut legislation passed today by the House “hurts vulnerable people, public schools and public safety, the members of the House Democratic Caucus today stood up for Florida’s people by voting against the budget cut plan. The legislation was considered as part of a special session called to address the state's $1.3 billion budget shortfall.

“As we debate on how to balance Florida’s budget, I call on all of us to reflect the values of Floridians. We put our families, first,” House Democratic Leader Frankel, of West Palm Beach, said during debate on the legislation. “This budget has too many losers. They are the schoolchildren who will see larger classes and fewer slots in universities. They are the poor seniors who will lose help paying for vitally needed prescription drugs. They are the poor and disabled who won’t have eyeglasses, hearing aids or dental services. They are the teens who will become addicted to tobacco because we turned our back on tobacco prevention. They are the infants who will die or suffer low birth weight because we cut off prenatal care. They are the invalids forced out of nursing homes, the working poor and disabled who will lose their health care benefits, the caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients who will lose respite services. They are the children who need us the most. They are the deaf and blind children seeking an opportunity for a productive life. When these people lose, who really wins?”

During debate on the budget cuts, Leader Frankel noted how the proposal was “fiscally unwise” because it takes $300 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund with no fiscally responsible plan to pay it back. During the debate on the proposal, members of the House Democratic Caucus spoke on how it would harm health care for vulnerable people, education and public safety.

“If I were to vote for this budget, I would be failing my constituents,” House Democratic Leader pro-tempore Doug Wiles, of St. Augustine said. “How can I vote for this budget when I promised to fight for our public schools? How can I vote for this budget when I pledged to protect health care programs for our seniors and developmentally disabled? How can I vote for this budget and claim to be tough on crime? The fact is I can’t and I won’t.”

The budget cut plan passed by the Florida Legislature:

HEALTH CARE

· Threatens the health of 5,150 pregnant women who, on July 1, 2002, will lose health care services including hospital inpatient and outpatient services, physician services and clinic services through a reduction in the income standard for Medicaid eligibility.

· Puts 36,300 adults at risk when they lose services under the Medically Needy program on July 1, 2002 including prescription drugs, hospital inpatient and outpatient services and physician services.

· Takes away the opportunity for 23,000 needy senior citizens to receive prescription assistance by cutting $22.5 million from the prescription drug assistance program.

· Reduces efforts to keep seniors in our communities and out of nursing homes.

· Takes away eligibility from 92,000 underprivileged adults in need of dental, visual and hearing services to receive this assistance from the state on July 1, 2002 - adding pressure to hospital emergency rooms, non-profit organizations and local charities to meet the need.

· Threatens healthy futures for young people by reducing the state’s landmark tobacco pilot program by $14.3 million.

· Reduces services for people with developmental disabilities.

· Cuts funding in half for the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program and Children’s Cardiac Program.

EDUCATION

· Cuts $386.7 million in general revenue from our “seamless” K-20 education system.

· Cuts $146 million in funding for K-12 public schools - reducing badly needed dollars to hire new caring, qualified teachers; train teachers; provide textbooks to schoolchildren; help children read at or above grade level; operate alternative schools; and provide transportation to bring children to school.

· Eliminates $5 million from School Readiness programs for pre-school children.

· Eliminates full-service schools.

· Cuts $28 million from state universities.

· Takes financial aid funds away from 33,000 university students and cuts $15 million from Bright Futures scholarships for the 2002 summer term.

· Cuts $22 million from community colleges.

· Cuts $37 million from workforce development programs.

· Reduces funding for education services for blind citizens.

PUBLIC SAFETY

· Cuts hundreds of correctional and probation officers - the front-line employees who help protect the safety and security of Florida’s residents and visitors.

· Weakens Florida’s commitment to preventing crime by reducing the state’s investment in front-end strategies that ensure at-risk young people are on the right path toward success. This includes taking away funding for new juvenile detention center and bed facilities; and cutting juvenile delinquency prevention programs by $8.6 million.

· Reduces funding for treatment of sexually violent predators.

· Reduces substance abuse treatment programs in the prison system - a critical component of keeping inmates from returning to prison by reducing drug dependence.

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