Cuts to Programs for the Poor – Minnesota

DFLers challenge Pawlenty’s proposed welfare cuts, By Madeleine Baran, April 27, 2010, Minnesota Public Radio: “DFL legislators in the House appear poised to challenge Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s proposed cuts to the state’s welfare programs. A budget proposal released Monday by Rep. Thomas Huntley, DFL-Duluth, contains few of the cuts that the governor proposed earlier this year. Huntley chairs the House Health and Human Services committee and said his budget prioritizes the needs of the poorest Minnesotans. ‘We tried to minimize the cuts, so that we would not destroy institutions that we’re going to need for the next three years when the economy gets better, but we do have some serious cuts,’ Huntley said. Earlier this year, the governor had proposed cuts to the Minnesota Family Investment Program, a welfare program for families. The cuts would mean that most families with a disabled parent or child would lose their cash grants. Huntley’s budget does not include these cuts, although it does include other changes to the program…”