By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
8-4-09

Shelters for victims of domestic violence weren’t the only program the governor slashed to the bare bones on July 28.
Schwarzenegger also used his veto power to eliminate more than $50 million from the Healthy Families Program that provides affordable healthcare coverage for low-income children. This has forced the program to start a waiting list for new applicants, effective July 17.
Enrique, a representative for Healthy Families Program who explained he was not allowed to release his last name, said that the waiting list is in place, basically until the program can receive more money. He said that there are enough funds in the program to support those already enrolled, but no more.
And, as a part of the waiting list, any current enrollee that is delinquent on a payment or misses a paperwork deadline will not be quickly re-enrolled as in the past, but placed on the waiting list.
He said those currently enrolled should be adamant about paying their dues and returning paperwork on time.
Enrique said the governor wanted to totally eliminate the program, but fortunately did not. However, this new cut for Healthy Families follows a $2.7 million cut to its application assistance program.
It has been argued by liberals and conservatives a like that more debt is accrued by cutting state-run healthcare programs than by keeping them. Without affordable healthcare, the sick will be turning to emergency rooms for care that will cost the state and taxpayers even more in the long run than the short-sighted savings in hand.