Quatrini Rafferty received an email from the Pennsylvania Bar Association which issued the following warning about the reduction in Civil Legal Services Funding:
The Pennsylvania Senate introduced SB 850 as their proposed 2009-2010 state budget on Friday, May 1st. That legislation is poised to be voted on, and adopted, by the Senate tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6th. SB 850 eliminates all state funding (all $3,172,000 of the state's appropriation) for civil legal services. Access to justice is a major concern to the members of the PA Bar Association. The reduction of funding for legal services at a time of substantially increased need due to current, severe economic recession is remarkable.
Please call your state senator immediately. Implore him/her to restore the state appropriation for civil legal services. Tell him/her that access to justice for the poorest among us is not an appropriate "bargaining chip" for budget negotiation.
As the PBA urges, please contact your State Senator and/or your local Representative immediately to share your opposition to the reduction. You can find either one through the link below:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm
Thank you.
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