Subscribe to the RSS feed.Oregon Governor Releases Budget: What’s the health impact?
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CHP | Posted on: December 3rd, 2008
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Economic Issues •
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Public Health •
Transportation
Governor Ted Kulongoski released his proposed two-year state budget on Monday, December 12, recommending a $15.8 billion general fund budget for 2009-11 (a five percent increase from 2007-09). The budget calls for $2 billion in new taxes and fees but cuts tens of thousands of elderly and low-income residents from state programs.
In his accompanying message to Oregonians, the Governor said, “I have made policy choices that put children first and strengthen the foundations of a diverse economy. To realize these goals, I have had to balance this budget by both subtraction and addition.”
As the Oregonian reports, “the new money would pay for transportation construction projects, put thousands more children and adults under the Oregon Health Plan and boost spending on college tuition grants.”
But Steve Novick, writing in the BlueOregon blog, complains that the Governor “refused to acknowledge the cuts he is making…No mention of the 100,000 Oregonians who will lose vision and dental coverage. No mention of the thousands of poor families who will lose child care subsidies. No mention of the thousands of seniors who will lose in-home care.”
The Medford Mail-Tribune reports that “schools are spared, but family aid services take the brunt of cuts,” and says that the $1.2 billion shortfall will be made up by reductions in care for seniors above certain income levels and mental-health and addiction services….altogether, up to 13,000 seniors, disabled individuals and low-income families could see drops in services” under the plan.
Part of the budget calls for a proposed 60-cent tobacco tax increase. The governor says it will “be used to offset the medical costs of treating smoking-related illnesses and diseases, which are borne by all Oregonians. The revenues from these taxes will be directed to investments in public health services, health care, health promotion and delivery system reforms. In addition, this increase will discourage and reduce smoking among younger Oregonians.”
In a press release, the Tobacco Free Coalition of Oregon praised the proposed tax increase, commenting that it would “reduce smoking among Oregon youth by 14 percent and will also encourage adult smokers to quit.”
However, an online commenter on the OPB Think Out Loud blog writes that the tobacco tax money “will not cover the cost of the programs being set up and as fewer people smoke, there will be even less money brought in each year. If he really feels that a targeted tax is necessary, he should tax coffee. At a nickel per cup sold in Oregon, I’m sure enough money would be brought in to cover the cost of the proposed child healthcare.”
What’s your view?
What does this budget say about the Governor’s commitment to the health of Oregonians?
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