MCC-Net Alert

May 16, 2008

Call Your Senator to Support Tucker Budget Amendment on Emergency Aid

The Roman Catholic Bishops are urging legislative support for a funding increase for 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. 

In a letter sent this week to the chairmen of the House and Senate Ways & Means Committees, the four ordinaries observed that funding levels for a program called Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) have not been raised since 1988, and that current levels, especially in light of the recent economic downturn, will not meet anticipated cost of living and caseload increases.  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.”  See attached flyer.  

While the funding total proposed this week by the Senate Ways and Means Committee amounts to an increase over current levels, Senator Susan Tucker has filed an amendment to add more funding in the Senate version of the budget to match the amount approved in the final House budget.  The budget will be debated in the Senate next week, and amendments will be taken up as early as Wednesday, May 21.

Please call or email your state senator by Wednesday of next week and urge him or her to support Senator Susan Tucker’s amendment to line item 4408-1000 of the Senate budget to help persons in desperate financial circumstances. 

To reach your Senator by phone, call the Senate Clerk’s office at 617-722-1276 and ask to be transferred to your Senator’s office.  You also can find direct phone numbers and email addresses for each Senator online at http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm and you can determine who your Senator is by entering your address online at http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php.

Massachusetts Catholic Conference
West End Place, Suite 5
150 Staniford St.
Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2511
(v) 617-367-6060
(f) 617-367-2767
(e) staff@macathconf.org
(w) http://www.macathconf.org

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