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These are difficult times - there is no way to get around that. When faced with a budget deficit of half a billion dollars we must remember the priorities of government - taking care of vulnerable populations and investing in the future for our communities.

Human services programs are about people - seniors, children, hard-working families. These programs (Employment Related Day Care is a great example) help keep families in the workforce so they can provide for their families and also provide living wage jobs to thousands of Oregonians in the public and private sector (home health care workers, health care providers etc).  When we cut these programs, then, there is a ripple effect throughout the entire community.

Human services programs are also counter cyclical - when the economy is bad, caseloads rise. This is precisely how the programs are supposed to work so that we can provide for people in their times of crisis. 

There is no easy solution but investing in the public structures that help everyday Oregonians must remain a top priority. Calling our federal delegation and supporting the FMAP, education and TANF extensions is the first step in helping our state. We must also take a broader look at the tax and revenue structure of our state and support a system that adequately provides for our citizens.

posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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