Texas proposes to cut millions from safety net programs as officials brace for COVID-19 budget impac
AUSTIN — Health care and food assistance programs that benefit low-income Texans would be slashed under proposed budget cuts that top state leaders say are necessary to weather the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Documents obtained by The Dallas Morning News show state agencies are proposing to pull back money for women’s health programs, trim funds for food banks and slim the workforce that helps people sign up for health insurance, even as demand for those services grows amid the downturn.
Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen in May asked most state agencies and higher education institutions to cut their budgets 5% to offset revenue losses from the pandemic. Leaders spared most public school funding, contributions to state employee pensions and prison security.
Also exempt are five agencies: the Texas Department of State Health Services, Division of Emergency Management, Workforce Commission, Military Department and Department of Public Safety.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/09/09/texas-proposes-to-cut-millions-from-safety-net-programs-as-officials-brace-for-covid-19-budget-impact/
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