Protect Family Planning Funding for Low-Income Women
Governor Gregoire has released her state budget proposal. We all knew there would have to be budget cuts. What we didn’t know is that some of those cuts would come at the expense of low-income, at-risk women. The Governor’s budget calls for the elimination of over 70 full-time nurses who provide birth control for low-income women across the state. This cut will affect thousands of women, and is slated to go into effect at the end of January. But wait, it gets worse: this budget cut actually eliminates a key source of income from the federal government: the DSHS cut of $1.26 million (from the supplemental and biennial budgets combined) ends up costing the state – and the low-income women served – almost $12 million in leveraged federal funds. That is because for every $1 the state spends on this program, the federal government provides $9. In a time of financial crisis, it simply doesn’t make sense to cut off a source of income for the state.
There is no time to lose: contact the Governor's office and the legislature TODAY and help reinstate this critical funding in the budget! Governor Christine Gregoire: 360-902-4111 or send an email Sen. Margarita Prentice, Chair of Senate Ways and Means Committee: 360-786-7616 or send an email Rep. Kelli Linville, Chair of House Ways and Means Committee: 360-786-7854 or send an email Click here to find your legislators and urge them to restore family planning funding.
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