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NoVA LUUP Testimony to the House
Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees'
Regional Public Hearings on the Governor’s
Proposed 2008-10 Biennial Virginia Budget.
Thurs. Jan. 8, 2009
Good Morning. I am Laura Dely, representing the
NoVA LUUP, an organization of Northern Virginia
Unitarian Universalists dedicated to adding a UU
voice of love & justice in the Virginia Legislature.
Our 2009 agenda includes ending workplace
discrimination for LGBT people, CHOICE protection,
and setting the Virginia budget priorities to reflect
OUR family values that protect children and help
families to have at least basic needs of food and
shelter.
In general, NoVA LUUP asks that the legislature
guard against any attempts to balance the state
budget on the backs of the poor.
SPECIFICALLY – we’re concerned that the
Governor has proposed, and I quote from the 2009
Executive Budget Document, to “remove excess
appropriation” from the TANF program.
This is astonishing! Virginia already pays the least of
all 50 states for its TANF Program. We pay ONE
FIFTH the federal poverty level to TANF
beneficiaries. One Fifth!
These are dependent children, who we all know do
not thrive in poverty, and we all know too that
poverty breeds trouble for society when these poor
kids grow up.
Do you think there is a connection between the rate
of teen violence and the number of kids living in
poverty, which in Virginia is about 60,000 children?
We do, and there are many, many studies that
document that connection – so why don’t we act on
that knowledge, and take the money that is already
on the table, and add it to the TANF kitty.
Here’s what we mean:
- OK – it’s a tough, tough budget year, BUT, we
urge you all to support Chairman Colgan’s budget
amendment that will increase the TANF program by
10% a year, through 2011, without any additional
money from the General Fund, by using TANF funds
that are already available (the so-called “excess
appropriation” in the Governor’s proposed budget.)
- And once the benefit is restored, NoVA LUUP
encourages support for Sen. Barker’s expected bill
that will index future TANF benefits to the state
employees wages, so when they get a raise, so will
the TANF beneficiaries. This will prevent the effects
of inflation from diminishing the benefits as we have
seen in the past quarter Century.
After all, TANF recipients have had only one 10%
increase in almost a quarter century, while inflation
increased costs 100%.
Our Unitarian Universalist faith calls us to recognize
the inherent worth and dignity in all people, including
our neediest families. It’s time to give our most
vulnerable citizens a bit of help – it’s only just.
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