FY 2008 BUDGET UPDATE!
The FY 2008 budget is complete. The act allotting $26.7 billion for programs and services across the commonwealth was signed by the Governor on July 12 one day shy of his 10 day deadline. There is still a possibility that the House and the Senate will override some of the Governor’s $41 million in vetoes with a two-thirds majority vote.
Thank you to all of you who advocated on behalf of children and families throughout the budget process, your time and energy makes a difference! Several of MSPCC’s budget priorities, like early intervention services and funding for a supervised visitation center in Greenfield, were included in the conference committee budget and approved by the Governor.
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR ALL CHILDREN
Since its
inception in 1998, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program
(S-CHIP) has greatly reduced the number of uninsured children
throughout America, covering around 30 million children. Unfortunately, nation wide, 9 million children continue to be without any health insurance. S-CHIP, which is federally funded but administered by the states, is set to expire on September 30th, 2007. Legislators
have the unique opportunity in the upcoming weeks to ensure that all
children have a healthy start by supporting the All Healthy Children Act (S 1564/HR 1688) sponsored in the Senate by Senator Bernard Sanders' (I-VT) and in the House by Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA). Not
only would the act expand and improve coverage to uninsured children
and pregnant women, it would also enhance access to care by increasing
payments to health care providers. If you would like to learn more about the efforts to protect S-CHIPS, please visit: http://www.childrensdefense
HIGHER EDUCATION A PRIORITY FOR MSPCC & GOV. PATRICK
One of Governor Deval Patrick’s main legislative priorities centers on higher education, as he hopes to make community colleges in the Commonwealth free to all high school graduates by the year 2015. It is a bold plan that is part of his vision for a “cradle to career” educational system in the state, which also includes preschool for all children and extension of the school day and year. Such a vision, undeniably, goes hand in hand with one of MSPPC’s legislative priorities: Senate Bill 127, An Act Increasing the Educational Opportunities for Foster Children, sponsored by Senator Tucker, which waives tuition AND fees at public colleges and universities in Massachusetts for all youth who have aged out of foster care, have been adopted from foster care, or are in a legalized guardianship placement. Stay tuned to hear about ways you can help make higher education a reality for vulnerable youth!