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BUDGET
ALERT AND UPDATE!
The
Governor released new budget proposals today
that would cut health coverage for nearly
30,000 people on MaineCare and further restrict
eligibility for General Assistance.
1)
The Governor proposes to eliminate MaineCare
coverage for:
- Childless
adults (the so-called non-categoricals)
below the federal poverty level and
- Parents
with incomes between 133% FPL and 200%
FPL.
This
proposal will leave nearly 30,000 people
uninsured. These people will go without
necessary health care and have to turn to
the Emergency Department when they get really
sick.
2)
The budget will also make anyone receiving
cash assistance from any federal program,
such as SSI or TANF, ineligible for General
Assistance. TANF and SSI benefits
are low and there are times when families
must turn to GA for assistance with the
basics, such as housing and food.
This proposal will cause more families to
become homeless.
Please
join us at the Maine Can Do Better Citizen
Lobby Day on May 11th at the
state house to protest these cuts and all
of the other cuts to vital services. Along
with speaking directly to your legislators,
there may be an opportunity on May
11th for people who will be harmed
by these proposed cuts to share their stories
with members of the appropriations committee.
We will provide more detail soon.
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MaineCan
Do Better - Citizens Lobby Day
Wednesday,
May 11th
9:30
a.m. to 12:00 noon
Hall
of Flags, State House, Augusta
See
Bangor & Portland bus schedule
below. No charge for the ride but
you must call to reserve a seat.
Buses
from Portland or Bangor... at no cost
AARP
is sponsoring buses from Portland
and Bangor to bring folks to Augusta
on Wednesday, May 11th to the Maine
Can Do Better Lobby Day.
Anyone
who wants to get on a bus must
call to reserve a seat. Call
Greg at 776-6302.
Here's the schedule:
Portland Bus:
City of Portland SS Lot, 196 Lancaster
Street
Load Time: 8:00
Depart: 8:15 Sharp
Depart State House: 2:15
Bangor
Bus:
Odlin
Road Park
and Ride
Load
Time: 7:30
Depart: 7:45 Sharp
Depart State House: 2:15
To
RSVP or for more information about
the Lobby Day,
go to Maine Can Do Better Citizen Lobby
Day.
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For
more information about current proposed
cutsto
TANF, MaineCare, General Assistance,
and the Medicare Savings Program,
visit MEJP's Budget Webpage.
Have
any questions, call MEJP at 1-866-626-7059
or contact MAIN leaders:
Tammy
Trask at 968-2009 or tammy.trask@maine.edu
Barbara
Rankins at 513-6291 or barbk1ns@aol.com
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