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Lives on the BUDGET Chopping Block
On January 9, 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger released his proposed budget for 2004-05, slashing and eliminating virtually all immigrant programs: health care, food stamps, cash assistance for seniors and persons with disabilities, and CalWORKs. Under his proposal, the most vulnerable members of our community – sick children, pregnant women, low-income seniors, women with breast or cervical cancer, and persons with disabilities – will be denied services or placed on lengthy waiting lists with no prospect of timely relief.
Specifically, the Governor's January budget:
Denies access to health care to 114,000 children, including more than 2,000 immigrant children under the Healthy Families program. The Legislative Analyst's Office notes that the proposed waiting list could climb to about 280,000 children by the end of 2005-06.
Deprives nearly 1,000 seniors and persons with disabilities of subsistence aid under the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, placing them at risk of hunger and homelessness. After passage of the 1996 welfare law, the threat of losing SSI provoked the suicides of several elderly immigrants and immigrants with disabilities, who were left with no choice but death.
Denies 78,000 immigrants Medi-Cal health coverage, including 65,900 immigrants (mostly pregnant women) who will be denied non-emergency services such as prenatal care and 525 women with cancer who will be denied treatment under the Breast & Cervical Cancer Treatment Program. Pregnant women, women dying of cancer, and persons with severe disabilities will be wait-listed for health care, despite their immediate need for treatment.
Cuts food stamps to 1,136 immigrants, the vast majority of whom are working but earning low wages and who currently qualify under the California Food Assistance Program.
Denies CalWORKs benefits and services to lawfully present immigrants, despite no projected savings for 2004-05.
"The proposed cuts to immigrant programs are short-sighted, generating only nominal savings in the short term and costing California millions more in the near future," said Rini Chakraborty, of the ACLU of Southern California. "California must invest in its future and seek creative solutions to the fiscal crisis without balancing the budget on the backs of working families and the poor."
The ACLU/SC has been working in a coalition with immigrant rights organizations, health advocates, and low-income community groups to stop these inhumane cuts and to advocate for a fair, balanced solution to the budget crisis.
PROFILES
My name is Soon Bae Lee. I am 75 years old, living in low-income housing in Los Angeles. I have been in America for 12 years. My only income is food stamps and my son's donation. For food stamps, I receive about $90 and my son provides about $300 monthly. Lately, my son started having financial difficulties due to the bad economy, and I did not want to be a financial burden to my son.
Recently, I found out that I might be eligible for CAPI, which is Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, yet I also heard that the Governor would put a cap on CAPI, which means I might be on a waiting list. Without CAPI, I do not know how to live my life at this moment. I want the Governor to change his budget cut plans. Thanks.
David & Maria* are both frail seniors who came to the U.S. in 1997 from a small town in the Ukraine. During World War II, Maria was held in a Nazi concentration camp, but survived her ordeal. Her parents and brothers were killed. Her husband David was at the frontline fighting against the Nazis. He lost his leg and became disabled, but returned alive from the war. They married, worked hard and raised a daughter. In the former Soviet Union, they experienced various forms of anti-Semitism from both the state and individuals.
In 1997, they moved to the U.S. to escape persecution. As refugees, they were eligible for SSI for seven years, after which they must become citizens in order to continue qualifying for the benefit. For both of them, this has become a difficult problem.
Maria experiences memory loss, suffers from depression and finds it hard to learn a new language. David has an artificial limb and can't drive or use public transportation. The couple applied for citizenship but they failed the citizenship test. Soon, they will "time-off" of SSI, and their only hope for support is the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).
Their daughter cannot help her parents because she has a disabling neurological problem that leaves her unable to walk well. David and Maria are scared that, after such a difficult life, they would become homeless if they can't get CAPI. Maria says that she doesn't want to live any more.
Elsa is a 42-year-old single mother with two children, ages 13 and 21. A year ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and is now undergoing radiation therapy. Before her diagnosis, Elsa worked full-time as a cook in a restaurant.
She and her husband were together for 14 years. However, they recently separated and she is filing for citizenship under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
Elsa's radiation treatment is provided under the Breast & Cervical Cancer Treatment Program. Without this program, Elsa would be unable to pay for her treatment, and would experience terrible suffering and eventual death from her cancer.
Ms. G.* is a 29-year-old woman, currently unemployed and on Medi-Cal. Ms. G., who is from Mexico, has three young children. Her youngest son, Cesar, has diabetes. He requires a blood test and medication every day at a cost of about $250 per month. For three months, Cesar has been without health insurance, and Ms. G. has had to pay out of pocket for all of his health needs, including three types of insulin, blood testing supplies, and syringes.
She has sought help to get his insurance coverage reinstated. The family's economic situation has steadily deteriorated. Without Medi-Cal, Ms. G. says she is just not sure the family could make it.
Profiles provided by the California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative (CIWC). *Not their real names
MAY 2004
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