BREAKING NEWS – Governor Deal has proposed cutting ALL state funds for domestic violence—leaving the Department of Health Services’ Family Violence Division entirely dependent on Federal TANF and grant funds. The details are here in the DHS’s budget presentation.
Bottom line, Nathan Deal zeroed out all 4 million-plus dollars the state spends on protecting women and children. Gone. Poof. Nada. And he wants it gone immediately—both for the FY2011 amended budget and the FY2012 budget. Of course this is just the “proposal” and it will all be reviewed in committee. Regardless, this move is shocking and very dangerous.
While other divisions took cuts, for sure, the only one other zeoroed out program was the Support for Needy Families Work Assistance Program. What does this say for Governor Deal? It says that he does not find these issues to be a priority and if we want women and children to be safe, well, the Federal government better come through with the funding, because Nathan Deal is not going to do a darn thing.
God forbid we look for alternate revenue sources, much less hold off on that corporate tax break. It’s only hundreds of women and children dying preventable deaths every year.
