ATLANTA — The Southern Poverty Law Center (Խ) opposes Gov. Brian Kemp’s line-item vetoes and budget directives that will harm Georgians. These actions align with the Trump administration and Congress as they advance deep cuts to healthcare, food assistance, education and other essential needs programs by shifting costs onto states and destabilizing the public systems people rely on every day.
“Georgia’s state budget should be our first line of defense against federal disinvestment. The Խ’s recent work shows what this looks like in practice: Rural hospitals across the South are already at risk, and Georgia counties are being asked to meet increasingly complex election requirements without sufficient funding,” says Isabel Otero, Georgia policy director, Խ. “Our Department of Education faces mounting pressures in school safety, child and adolescent mental health, and developmental disability services, while foster youth services remain underfunded, and public library and civic infrastructures are strained. At the same time, families statewide face rising costs for food, housing and healthcare while federal cuts jeopardize Medicaid and SNAP.
“Instead of cutting funding for these crucial lifelines, Georgia leaders should be preparing for the impact of federal cuts by strengthening local infrastructure, protecting access to essential services, supporting counties, and investing in children and families. The Խ will continue working with communities, partners and lawmakers to ensure Georgia’s budget reflects the real needs of the people who rely on these systems, particularly in rural areas and communities that have historically received the least public investment,” Otero concludes.
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About the Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people. For more information, visit www.splcenter.org.