MASS BUDGET FURTHER THREATENED

June 21, 2010

SEN. BROWN IGNORES DESPERATE CALLS FOR HELP

 With the heartbreaking developments last week in which Congress ultimately failed to grant a six month extension of FMAP (enhanced federal Medicaid spending), Massachusetts and dozens of other already struggling states are facing the very real prospect of building their budget without hundreds of millions of dollars in once expected federal aid.

A test vote last week failed 52 to 45 and subsequent votes to end a filibuster also came up short. With resolution unlikely before the beginning of the new fiscal year July 1, state lawmakers are between a rock and a hard place. The State House News Serrvice quoted House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo saying that lawmakers would likely finalize a budget that does not include the funds, rather than delay action until the matter is settled.

 In Massachusetts, this would mean cutting nearly $700 million from programs or 3.6 percent from the Health and Human services budget. This would include home and community based services, supported employment, dental care and even basic health care. It cannot be overstated how devastating this would be for people with disabilities and their families.

Groups as varied as the Greater Boston Chamber of Commmerce, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and the Progressive Business Leaders Network, all recognize how damaging this will be. “There is no easy or painless way to make cuts that large,” the heads of those groups wrote in a joint letter. “It will mean reductions in all types of state services.”

Perhaps most disheartening is that one of our very own Senators on Capitol Hill is directly responsible. Despite hundreds of desperate calls for help, Sen. Brown has continued to oppose the funding, maintaining that doing so would add to the federal deficit.

We have received numerous calls and emails from constituents who have reached out to Senator Brown’s office only to get the distinct sense that their concerns were being brushed off.

Now, more than ever, Sen. Brown needs to hear from you so that he understands that politically (if not fiscally), his current position is actually the costly one.

Call Sen. Scott Brown’s Office
(202) 224-4543 
And tell him to support FMAP funding 
for the sake of Massachusetts