2010 Budget Agenda

Governor Schwarzenegger signed the 2010-11 state budget on the hundredth day of the fiscal year, Friday October 8th.  In doing so, he used his line-item veto authority to reduce state expenditures by $963 million, expenditures which had been approved by the legislature. The governor stated his reason for doing so was to create a larger budget reserve.

The final budget includes $18.3 billion in budget “solutions” including $7.5 billion of cuts, an assumption of $5.3 billion in federal funds, $2.5 billion of revenues and the rest in fund shifts and other gimmicks.

AACRE’s Budget Priorities & Other Immigrant Programs

AACRE’s budget priorities were three vital programs for the immigrant community, especially the most vulnerable in the API community.  AACRE is pleased to report that the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), California Food Assistance Program, and full-scope Medi-Cal for immigrants remain whole. These programs were proposed by the governor for elimination, but have remained intact.

• The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI). CAPI serves as a lifeline of living assistance for lawfully present elderly, disabled or blind immigrants who do not qualify for federal SSI. The average monthly caseload for CAPI is roughly 10,300 individuals. Over 98% of CAPI recipients are sixty-five years or older, and over 80% of CAPI recipients are APIs.

• The California Food Assistance Program (CFAP). CFAP provides vital food assistance to roughly 23,400 low-income, lawfully present immigrants who are ineligible for federal food stamps.

• Medi-Cal benefits for immigrants. The Governor proposed eliminating comprehensive medical care for lawfully present immigrants. Benefits would have been limited to emergency services, pregnancy-related services, long-term care in a nursing facility, and breast and cervical cancer treatment.