State and Local Fiscal Relief
Across the country, states are planning huge cuts in health care, education, public safety and aid to local governments. Millions of aging and disabled individuals and children could lose their health care coverage if Congress does not act now.
President-Elect Obama Outlines Parts of Economic Recovery Plan
On Saturday, December 6th, President-elect Obama outlined parts of a much-needed economic recovery package to help jumpstart the economy and invest in America. The President-elect has also expressed support for helping states struggling with growing budget gaps to maintain vital public services.
In September, the House passed an economic recovery package which would have provided states in fiscal crisis with needed aid but Senate Republicans blocked a similar bill and President Bush threatened to veto both bills. The bills would have helped stabilize state budgets, spurred economic activity, created jobs, and maintained a basic standard of living for the millions of hard working Americans who struggle to pay the bills, feed their children and seek health care if they fall ill. (See how your Representative voted on the stimulus. See how your Senator voted on the stimulus.)
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America faces its greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression – and it’s causing states to cut vital services we all depend upon. At least 43 states face budget shortfalls now or will in the next year because the recession is making revenues drop fast and hard. Congress must act to improve the economy by making smart public investments that will keep Americans working, create new jobs and fund state services important to us all.
AFSCME Letters and Testimony
Congressional Letters in Support of Funding State and Local Fiscal Relief
Organization Letters in Support of Funding State and Local Fiscal Relief
- Letter from 375 economists (including Nobel Laureates Joseph Stiglitz, Robert Solow, and George Akerlof) urging Congress to move quickly to pass an effective new economic stimulus package that includes state aid (November 19, 2008)
- Bipartisan National Governors Association letter in support of an economic recovery package with aid to states (October 27, 2008)
- National Sign-On letter supporting an increase in the federal Medicaid match (September 9, 2008)
- LCAO letter in support of an increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (September 5, 2008)
- AFL-CIO: Executive Council Statement supporting S. 2819 and HR 5268 (August 5, 2008)
- AARP letter supporting an increase to the federal Medicaid matching rate (FMAP) (July 22, 2008)
- National Association of Counties letter supporting HR 5268 and NACo’s Resolution on state fiscal relief (July 15, 2008)
- Childrens organization sign-on letter supporting state fiscal relief through a temporary increase in federal support for state Medicaid programs (April 28, 2008)
- National Education Association letter supporting S. 2819 (April 10, 2008)
- Leadership Council of Aging Organizations sign-on letter supporting state fiscal relief through a temporary increase in federal support for state Medicaid programs (April 10, 2008)
- National Education Association letter supporting HR 5268 (April 9, 2008)
- National Governors Association policy position supporting “State Countercyclical Funding” and increasing the federal Medicaid match rate and flexible block grants for states (February 27, 2008)
- NGA’s letter supporting a $6 billion increase in Medicaid funding and $6 billion in flexible block grants to states (January 28, 2008)
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