MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - Though General Relief recipients saw state payments restored last week by the legislature, some say they fear they will be cut off next year.
General Relief provides assistance to needy and medically unemployable adults who cannot qualify under any other assistance program. To be eligible for General Relief, recipients need to live in Missouri and be a U.S. citizen or a legal immigrant.
Due to budget cuts, Gov. Bob Holden's administration had cut the monthly state aid from $80 to $9 in January. Last week, however, lawmakers approved an emergency appropriation to restore most of general relief payment funding with retroactive payments of $70.
But the program may have a very short lease on life -- of not more than a couple more months.
Holden has proposed to eliminate all funding for the program in the 2004 fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Kaye Miller, a General Relief recipient, said the checks provide needed assistance.
"Gov. Holden shouldn't cut the money for the program, because there is a lot of people who are going to be out of their houses, they are going to run out of food," Miller said. "Maybe $70 don't mean much for the Governor, but for us is a lot of money that let us pay medicine and bills."
Robin Acree, executive director of Grass Roots Organizing of Mid-Missouri, said General Relief recipients are very fearful that the funding is not going to be restored in 2004.
"They need the money for the medication, to go and see doctors... so they are afraid that next year they won't have any money for it," Acree said.
The Missouri Association for Social Welfare (MASW) is now trying to focus on 2004 budget and fight to get $70 to $80 for next year.
After House and Senate budget negotiators decided to spend an extra $2.9 million in state funds on the program, the checks would retroactively be raised to $70 monthly and remain at that level through June 30.
"We restored the funding because these are very poor people and they are having a very bad time," said Sen. Joan Bray, D-St.Louis County.
Relief recipients had been demonstrating for months in protest of January's cuts.
"I am very happy the $70 have been restored, but -- although I have no doubt there is a budget crisis -- it's not enough," Acree said.
Dianna Moore, executive director of Missouri Association for Social Welfare, also said that the legislature made a good decision.
"These people don't have other means of income, so to go from $9 to $70 is very good news, at least it's something," Moore said.
Rep. Barbara Fraser, D-St.Louis County, said another program should be created if Holden eliminates funding for the current program.
"We need to take care of needed people; if we eliminate one program, we should give funding for another one," Fraser said.