Gather at 12:15 p.m. Monday

The Human Services budget committee for the MN House of Representatives will release its budget proposals at noon on Monday.

We want as many people there as possible to witness whether the House will follow the Governor’s lead in proposing cuts to the assistance very low income Minnesotans receive through General Assistance and the Minnesota Family Investment Program. We want legislators to understand that GA and MFIP are the core of what is left of the safety net – especially for low wage workers who do not qualify for unemployment insurance or have access to short or long-term disability, family medical leave or paid sick leave. As long as only some workers qualify for unemployment insurance and only as long as some workers have access to paid sick leave, short and long-term disability insurance and family medical leave, then General Assistance and MFIP will continue to be necessary.

Gather outside room 200 in the State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in Saint Paul. (Get directions and information about parking at http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faq/faqtoc.asp?subject=14 . The 16 bus travelling in either direction will drop you off at the State Office Building.)

The Human Services committee is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. in that room. We want to be there to greet them. Because the committee start time can be delayed because of other business at the Capitol, we will make sure you have an opportunity to hand-write a quick note to committee members and/or record a piece of video testimony. If you cannot come at 12:15, arrive when you can. Those who arrive later will replace those who have to leave early.

If there are not cuts to General Assistance or MFIP, we will thank legislators. If there are cuts, we will register our disappointment. But this will not be a rally – it will be about being present, about letting legislators know there are many Minnesotans who think we can go no further – in cutting away health care, in cutting away the most essential lifelines we offer each other. This is an action organized by the Stand Together Minnesota campaign. Affirmative Options is partnering with many allies in this campaign to uphold a core value of standing by each other and standing with each other. We know the well-being of our families, our communities and our state rely on our willingness to stand together.

BACKGROUND:
The spending on MFIP and General Assistance combined is barely one half of 1% of the state’s general fund spending. Minnesota has not increased the assistance in those programs since 1986: an adult on General Assistance receives $203 a month and a family of three on MFIP receives $532 – deep poverty level assistance in both cases.

The myths about who turns to assistance and why are many. They are almost all wrong. The most common reason a parent turns to MFIP is having lost a job – and those jobs are primarily in hotels and restaurants, retail, temporary agencies and health care. Far more than half – 64% -- of the adults who turn to General Assistance are seriously ill for prolonged periods of time and need the assistance while they cannot work.

RSVP if you plan to come. Send a quick note to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and let us know if you plan to come – and if you plan to bring others. We can keep those who are planning this Stand Together Minnesota event how many to expect.