Got this from a social worker. Please consider the research and pass this along. Thanks!!
Why poor people count
Keeping SOS/TABOR off the ballot!
With Michigan's economy recovering from a long tenure of down sloping employment rates and budget cuts, cutting social service programs should not even be an option.
Interest groups are now asking Michigan voters to sign a petition that would cut social service programs that many unemployed and low-income families have come to need to survive.
Stop Overspending (SOS) is a legislation that is said to stop government over spending, but in actuality cuts social service programs and gives more money to non-constituent based causes.
The Michigan League of Human Services reported that 'adoption of the Stop Overspending (SOS) Ballot Initiative would significantly worsen Michigan's ongoing fiscal crisis and narrow the options for its solution—forcing deep cuts in K-12 and higher education, public health and safety, and child and family support and protection programs.'
This same piece of legislation was passed in Colorado in 1992 under the name "Taxpayers Bill of Rights" (TABOR). The result of the legislation left devastating effects on their economy and social service programs. The same results, if passed in Michigan, will have presumably the same affects.
According to MLHS, under the TABOR legislation Colorado declined from 35th to 49th in the nation in K-12 spending, and under TABOR, inflation adjusted funding for instate college students declined by 31 percent.
Currently the condition of higher education enrollment is declining in Michigan due to rising costs of tuition. Michigan has 109 degree granting institutions in the state that serves over 550,000 students. With the trend of adjusting funding for instate college students, the numbers of students being taught may decline.
On the national front, the budget situation has caused states to consider such legislation like SOS and TABOR due to a lack of funding from the federal government.
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) 85 percent of the 2005 budget enacted by the Congress and the President stems from tax cuts and increases in defense, international aid and homeland security. None of these moneys were geared towards domestic spending.
To stop government over spending the state does not need to pass legislation that will cut social service programs. The state needs to find reasonable and voter friendly solutions to a fiscal problem.
CBPP reported that in order to maintain the current trend of tax cuts and balance the federal budget 41% of social security benefits would be cut, 61% of defense spending, 53% of Medicare and only 29% of every other program excluding those above, would have to be cut.
One suggestion that might alter the need for such legislation like SOS and TABOR is to stop allowing tax cuts for people with high incomes levels. This would keep a stable amount of money in the federal budget, allowing for more allocation to social service programs that would keep human needs met across the board.
In 2005, $39 billion in "entitlement" programs were cut over the past five years. This includes Medicaid, children's programs, child support enforcement, foster care and student loans.
The Congressional Budget Office indicates that if the entitlement programs were cut it would cause low-income people to forgo much needed health care because of increased cost. It would result in $8 billion in child support going uncollected. And this would also raise charges for student loans.
With the hind sight given from the outcomes of budget cuts in 2005, and the similar circumstances arising in 2006, the president's proposed budget for 2007 still resembles a high income tax cut policy with domestic discretionary programs being cut deeper.
In order for people to "pick themselves up by their boot straps" and survive in our capitalistic economy, we need to offer social service programs to maintain a base of human needs in our society.
SOS/TABOR denies those human needs in reality, and on paper creates a facade of just cause. Do not sign the SOS petition in Michigan if you want Michigan's economy to become stable and successful for all people.
--
Crystallee R. Crain
Grad Student - Young People for fellow
People for the American Way
EMU Welfare Rights Office
Ypsilanti, MI
989-225-0118
Why poor people count
Keeping SOS/TABOR off the ballot!
With Michigan's economy recovering from a long tenure of down sloping employment rates and budget cuts, cutting social service programs should not even be an option.
Interest groups are now asking Michigan voters to sign a petition that would cut social service programs that many unemployed and low-income families have come to need to survive.
Stop Overspending (SOS) is a legislation that is said to stop government over spending, but in actuality cuts social service programs and gives more money to non-constituent based causes.
The Michigan League of Human Services reported that 'adoption of the Stop Overspending (SOS) Ballot Initiative would significantly worsen Michigan's ongoing fiscal crisis and narrow the options for its solution—forcing deep cuts in K-12 and higher education, public health and safety, and child and family support and protection programs.'
This same piece of legislation was passed in Colorado in 1992 under the name "Taxpayers Bill of Rights" (TABOR). The result of the legislation left devastating effects on their economy and social service programs. The same results, if passed in Michigan, will have presumably the same affects.
According to MLHS, under the TABOR legislation Colorado declined from 35th to 49th in the nation in K-12 spending, and under TABOR, inflation adjusted funding for instate college students declined by 31 percent.
Currently the condition of higher education enrollment is declining in Michigan due to rising costs of tuition. Michigan has 109 degree granting institutions in the state that serves over 550,000 students. With the trend of adjusting funding for instate college students, the numbers of students being taught may decline.
On the national front, the budget situation has caused states to consider such legislation like SOS and TABOR due to a lack of funding from the federal government.
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) 85 percent of the 2005 budget enacted by the Congress and the President stems from tax cuts and increases in defense, international aid and homeland security. None of these moneys were geared towards domestic spending.
To stop government over spending the state does not need to pass legislation that will cut social service programs. The state needs to find reasonable and voter friendly solutions to a fiscal problem.
CBPP reported that in order to maintain the current trend of tax cuts and balance the federal budget 41% of social security benefits would be cut, 61% of defense spending, 53% of Medicare and only 29% of every other program excluding those above, would have to be cut.
One suggestion that might alter the need for such legislation like SOS and TABOR is to stop allowing tax cuts for people with high incomes levels. This would keep a stable amount of money in the federal budget, allowing for more allocation to social service programs that would keep human needs met across the board.
In 2005, $39 billion in "entitlement" programs were cut over the past five years. This includes Medicaid, children's programs, child support enforcement, foster care and student loans.
The Congressional Budget Office indicates that if the entitlement programs were cut it would cause low-income people to forgo much needed health care because of increased cost. It would result in $8 billion in child support going uncollected. And this would also raise charges for student loans.
With the hind sight given from the outcomes of budget cuts in 2005, and the similar circumstances arising in 2006, the president's proposed budget for 2007 still resembles a high income tax cut policy with domestic discretionary programs being cut deeper.
In order for people to "pick themselves up by their boot straps" and survive in our capitalistic economy, we need to offer social service programs to maintain a base of human needs in our society.
SOS/TABOR denies those human needs in reality, and on paper creates a facade of just cause. Do not sign the SOS petition in Michigan if you want Michigan's economy to become stable and successful for all people.
--
Crystallee R. Crain
Grad Student - Young People for fellow
People for the American Way
EMU Welfare Rights Office
Ypsilanti, MI
989-225-0118
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