Medi-Cal for Lawfully Residing Immigrants, CAPI and CFAP Programs Tagged for Elimination; Other Harmful Cuts Proposed

In light of a growing budget deficit, Governor Schwarzenegger has called lawmakers for a special legislative session to consider mid-term cuts to the California budget. In addition to a range of Health and Human Service cuts proposed by the Governor, he has included the following proposals specifically targeting immigrant communities:

· The elimination of the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, CAPI which provides a lifeline of support to thousands of lawfully present elderly and disabled immigrants in California who are not eligible for federal SSI.

· The elimination of the California Food Assistance Program, CFAP, which provides critical food assistance to lawfully present immigrants in California who do not qualify for federal food stamps.

· The elimination of full scope Medi-Cal for lawfully present immigrants in California who do not qualify for federal Medicaid.

· The imposition of a 60-month time limit on assistance through the CalWORKs program to eligible children whose parents are ineligible for CalWORKs.

· Other general cuts that would affect immigrants, such as grant reductions under CalWORKs and sanctions to families not meeting work-related program requirements.

PLEASE CALL LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND YOUR OWN REPRESENTATIVE TODAY, URGING THEM TO REJECT THESE CUTS:

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass - (916) 319-2047

Senate President pro Tempore Don Perata - (916) 651-4009

Senate President pro Tempore- elect Darrell Steinberg - (916) 651-4006

To find out information about your legislator, visit www.leginfo.ca.gov

Suggestion of what to say:"My name is ______________ and I live in (name your town).

I'm calling to urge you to reject Governor Schwarzenegger's proposals to cut critical health and human services programs for lawful immigrants. Please support continuation of the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, (CAPI), Medi-Cal for lawfully residing immigrants, and the California Food Assistance (CFAP), as well as other health and human service programs that impact California's immigrant communities. Immigrants contribute to California with their taxes and their labor. In times of need it is important that they be able to get help just like all other California residents. Thank you for supporting these important programs. "

A STATE WIDE PARTNERSHIP OF: APALC (Asian Pacific American Legal Center, CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles,
NILC (National Immigration Law Center, SIREN (Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network)