MCC-NET ALERT

June 6, 2008

Contact Members of the Senate-House Conference Committee on Program of Last Resort for Destitute Persons—Emergency Aid to Elders, the Disabled and Children (EAEDC).

As the budget process continues at the State House in Boston, a Conference Committee of Senate and House members has been appointed to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions of next year’s state budget.

EAEDC is a state program that serves as the last resort for older persons, children and persons with disabilities who are destitute—having less than $303 in monthly income and $250 in assets—and who are unable to support themselves because of their age or disability. 

As noted by the four ordinaries in a letter sent earlier to the chairmen of the House and Senate Ways & Means Committees, funding levels for EAEDC have not been raised since 1988.  Current levels will not meet anticipated cost-of-living and caseload increases, especially in light of the recent economic downturn.  As indicated by the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, “for many, their EAEDC grant is the only thing preventing them from becoming homeless and ending up in a shelter.” 

While the funding total approved by the Senate last week ($71.98 million) amounts to an increase over current levels, it fails to match the amount approved earlier in the final House budget ($74.8 million) and supported by the Bishops. 

Please call or email each of the following members of the Senate-House Conference Committee and urge each to adopt the House funding level ($74.8 million) for budget line item 4408-1000 to help our elders, our disabled, and our children in desperate financial circumstances. 

Also, please take this opportunity to thank the House members (Chairman Deleo, Rep. St. Fleur and Rep. DeMacedo) for recognizing the urgent need for increasing the funding for EAEDC to the 74.8 million dollar level.

The Conference Committee is expected to work over the course of the next week and a half to complete its task of resolving budget differences, so please act soon by calling before Friday, June 13!

Contact information for Conference Committee Members

Senator Steven C. Panagiotakos:   email:  steven.panagiotakos@state.ma.us  phone:  617-722-1630

Senator Stephen M. Brewer:  email:  stephen.brewer@state.ma.us   phone:  617-722-1540

Senator Michael R. Knapik:  email  michael.knapik@state.ma.us  phone:  617-722-1415

Representative Robert A. DeLeo:  email  robert.deleo@state.ma.us  phone:  617-722-2990

Representative Marie P. St. Fleur:  email  rep.mariest.fleur@hou.state.ma.us  phone:  617-722-2380

Representative Vinnie DeMacedo:  email  rep.vinnydemacedo@hou.state.ma.us  phone:  617-722-2100

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