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State budget cuts have hidden consequences for children |
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By Kathy Tomlin
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Wednesday, 24 March 2010 |
The current $1 billion state budget deficit on top of the projected $5-plus billion deficit for the next biennium means that the leaders and citizens of this state have some difficult choices ahead. It is clear that revenues have not kept up with spending needs, in part due to the downturn in the economy. But this structural deficit is also a result of the tax cuts in recent years.
Faith and Justice
Kathy Tomlin
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Despite this huge hole, the administration and legislative leaders have decided that K-12 education should be held harmless. On the face of it, this seems like a good idea.
But many of the other cuts proposed by the administration and being
discussed by the legislature will have an impact on children living in
poverty.
Kids will be coming to school hungry, coming from chaotic home (or
shelter) situations, coming with high anxiety as they worry about their
parents and what’s down the road for the family. Only adding to that
anxiety is the expectation that they should be successful in the
classroom.
Interconnected systems
Unfortunately, all of these systems don’t operate in silos; they are
connected. The Health and Human Services budget has an impact on the
academic success of our children. Some would suggest that our ability to
mitigate conditions of poverty have as much or more impact on
achievement than almost anything else we can do.
As we look at the quality of life that we want for our children, our
families and our communities, there is a serious need for us to examine
how far we have backed away from the kinds of investments that improve
the quality of life for everyone here.
In particular, we should be concerned about the impact that proposed
budget cuts will have on those living in poverty. Low-income families
with kids and single adults are bearing the brunt of the cuts.
These budget proposals are pitting nursing homes, hospitals, poor
families, single adults and children with disabilities against each
other in order to secure a shrinking piece of the budget pie. Throughout
the state, food shelves are empty, and people who have lost their
housing and jobs are in despair. Many are turning to community partners
like Catholic congregations for help, but the increased need is
overwhelming. As much as parishes and other nonprofits try, the scope of
the problem is beyond any one entity to solve alone.
Protecting citizens
This is not a plea for a government solution that leaves the private
sector on the sidelines. But it is a plea for government not to back
away from its responsibility to the common good and the protection of
its citizens. If we continue to cut and cut, we will see the state
crumble around us. It is time to sit up and pay attention.
Surely, cuts in spending and transforming the way we do our work are
part of the puzzle. But we also need to make some tough decisions about
raising taxes in order to pay for those things that will improve the
quality of life for all of us.
Oliver Wendell Holmes cites the importance of taxation, suggesting that
“taxes are the price we pay for civilization.” Minnesota does not have a
reputation for being uncivilized.
Kathy Tomlin is director of the Catholic Charities Office for Social
Justice.
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