December 14, 2009

COALITION CHALLENGES $47 MILLION IN CUTS TO
KID'S PROGRAMS IN STATE BUDGET

State Representative Toni Walker, House Chair of the Legislature's Human Services Committee, was joined today by various organizations at a press conference to speak out against the Governor's proposed budget cuts to programs that serve children. The coalition gathered Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 11:00 am in room 1C of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

"It is not right that the first programs that are cut in any budget crisis are those that affect the most vulnerable in the state," Rep. Walker said. "The very young would be hurt by the Governor's proposed budget cuts and it has to be challenged."

Among the cuts being challenged by the group are $9 million for child care and after school programs as well as $2.6 million for school-based health clinics.

Among the organizations that joined Rep. Walker were the CT Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Inc., Wallingford Childcare Center, All Our Kin, Workforce Development Boards, School Based Health Services for the Community Health Centers and Meriden Children's First Initiative.