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Trump suffers first defeat but as always doubles down for the next fight; From Ohio to Azerbaijan: How COP29 could shape local farming; Funding boosts 'green' projects in Meadville, PA; VA apprenticeships bridge skills gaps, offer career stability.

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Trump has a new pick for Attorney General, his incoming "border czar" warns local Democratic officials not to impede mass deportation, and the House passes legislation that could target any nonprofit group accused of supporting terrorism.

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The CDC has a new plan to improve the health of rural Americans, updated data could better prepare folks for flash floods like those that devastated Appalachia, and Native American Tribes could play a key role in the nation's energy future.

Advocates Say Budget Continues Disinvestment in Children

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Wednesday, May 18, 2016   

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The budget passed by the legislature cuts investment in children and families, undermines transparency and jeopardizes future prosperity; that's the assessment of a leading child-advocacy organization.

Ellen Shemitz, executive director of Connecticut Voices for Children, says overall, the cuts to programs that support children and families were small compared to some other program areas.

But she maintains relying on cuts alone to balance the budget was unnecessary.

"We live in a state where there are tremendous resources and there's great wealth, and in failing to tap that wealth and to access those resources, we're failing to make really significant and important investments in children," says Shemitz.

An analysis by Voices for Children shows critical programs for children and families are being cut by more than $230 million.

Shemitz adds the cuts follow on decades of state disinvestment from schools, family health, child welfare and other services.

She says legislators can bring in new revenue next year without huge tax increases, by making adjustments within the existing tax structure.

"And very importantly looking at loopholes and exceptions from current taxes, particularly with respect to tax exemptions in the sales tax area," she says.

Shemitz says all tax exemptions in Connecticut now total more than $7 billion.

She is also concerned that the state has fundamentally altered the way it will calculate this and all future budgets. Rather than starting with the cost of maintaining the same level of services, legislators will only look at what was budgeted in the previous year.

"That means, by definition, each year, even without any policy changes," says Shemitz. "The funding that's available is going to effectively shrink because costs will increase without any adjustment."

She says state investment in health care, human services and education are critical to ensuring that the children of Connecticut will be able achieve their full potential.



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