ECONOMIC FALLOUT
Cutting The Fat
STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY GRAPPLING WITH GROWING DEFICITS BEGIN MAKING CUTS
1/14/2008
As the Feds wrestle with the rising national debt and the downward spiraling economy, states are also finding themselves staring at empty coffers and seeing red. As a result, states have no other choice but to start "cutting the fat".
The silver lining (if any exists) to the tumbling economy, is that lawmakers are being forced to carefully scrutinize where and how taxpayer money is being spent and look for ways which citizens will get the most out of their taxpayer dollars by eliminating wasteful spending.
Unfortunately most of the programs that are getting cut first are those designed to help those most in need, children and the elderly. States are dropping programs like daycare assistance for single mothers as well as medical and dental programs for the less fortunate. States and the Feds are also making cuts to the Homeland security Departments. Not a wise choice at all given the current state of affairs. The list also includes cuts to public education programs and Universities' nursing programs.
With their backs against the wall, lawmakers might do well to consider repealing costly laws that were based on emotion rather than logic and keep the programs to America's needy alive instead.
Laws like mandatory minimums for non-violent drug offenses (posession) which is and has costed states and the Feds a small fortune for such needless long-term incarceration. They're also taking a second look at the many pricey, feel-good, do nothing laws targeting former offenders.
This nation is at a crossroads fiscally and the American people and our lawmakers have little choice but to re-examine their priorities and put taxpayer money where it actually does the most good not where it makes them "look" good.
What's more important? Community notification on an ex-offender that comitted a crime 20, 30, or more years ago or keeping America's children fed with access to medical care and daycare so that a single Mom can keep her job and teachers to teach our kids? We aren't going to be able to have it both ways. Some states are already beginning to see the light and are now re-examining laws that they knew all along were based upon statistically and empirically unfounded fear and a false sense of security.
Las Vegas, Nevada -- Budge Cuts May End Halloween Sex Offender Checks
The whole point of Operation Scarecrow is to make sure sex offenders have no contact with children. Offenders aren't allowed to have decorations and cannot hand out candy. But this year, the state can't afford to pay the P&P officers who enforce these rules so they've had to come up with a different plan.
Source: http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=9253972
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- With all state agencies being asked to reduce budgets, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said it may have to cut two high-profile programs: Amber Alerts and the sex-offender registry notifications.Those are two of 34 programs that could be eliminated if the state requires the FDLE to cut 10 percent -- $18 million -- from its budget. Agency officials said after two previous years of budget reductions, there's no fat left, so they must consider cutting essential programs. ."We're not just using this as a scare technique. Our agency has thoughtfully looked through the services we provide and we're getting rid of the ones that aren't our core mission.
Source: http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/budget-cuts-threaten-end-amber-alerts-sex-offender-warnings
Budget Woes Cause States To Re-think Prison Policy
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is proposing early release of about 1,000 inmates. New York Gov. David Paterson wants early release for 1,600 inmates as well as an overhaul of the so-called Rockefeller Drug Laws that impose lengthy mandatory sentences on many nonviolent drug offenders.
"These laws have neither curbed drug use nor enhanced public safety," said Donna Lieberman of the New York Civil Liberties Union. "Instead, they have ruined thousands of lives and annually wasted millions of tax dollars in prison costs."
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/01/10/ap5904074.html
Louisianna Gov. Bobby 'Piyush" Jindal Announces Budget Cuts
Gov. Bobby Jindal today announced he is proposing cuts of $341 million to
As Governor Jindal said, the administration took the approach that “everything is on the table” in order to identify needed savings for the state, which includes finding savings in statutory dedications.