Carrie Writes
Why Advocacy is Needed
Carrie Barrepski Once in awhile I come across something that is truly disturbing.
According to the Minnesota Public Radio, in an effort to resolve the state’s
1.2 billion budget deficit, Governor Tim Pawlenty has cut 13.8 million dollars from the
budget for the General Assistance program. The portion of the program
that the budget cut applies to provides monthly payments of up $203 to low
income single adults who are unable to work due to a disability, many of whom
are homeless or have mental illness. In many cases this monthly payment is a
person’s only source of income. The program currently serves 19,000
individuals each month. A short-term assistance program will be put in place
to help individuals in crisis situations, but individuals would only be able to use
this program once a year. In attempting to defend Pawlenty’s elimination of
the monthly cash benefit, Cal Ludeman, the commissioner of Minnesota’s
Department of Human Services said, "I don't doubt that it's going to take some
ingenuity on the part of both counties and the recipients themselves to be able
to find more alternatives or solutions".

Many advocates are concerned that the discontinuation of the general
assistance program will lead many individuals to even greater hardship. Also,
many who really need support may end up falling through the systems cracks.
Another concern is with the program closing many might be unable to afford the
monthly premiums for state health care programs such as Minnesota Care that
is taking over the discontinued General Health Care program.

I often wonder at times if legislators lose touch with the realities of what every
day is like for people who are really struggling. Many sit on Capitol Hill looking
at figures, censuses and research but these results do not really provide
enough information to make critical decisions that affect us. This is why we
need to advocate for ourselves. It is up to us to open up our legislators’ eyes
to our true experiences and needs.