Comments on: Public safety isn't completely spared in Governor's supplemental budget http://minnesotabudgetbites.org/2010/02/24/public-safety-isnt-completely-spared-in-governors-supplemental-budget/ Fri, 18 May 2012 18:24:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Scott Russell http://minnesotabudgetbites.org/2010/02/24/public-safety-isnt-completely-spared-in-governors-supplemental-budget/#comment-307 Scott Russell Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:37:33 +0000 http://minnesotabudgetbites.org/?p=4036#comment-307 Mr. Tracy, Thanks for that important addition. Here are more details: The Supplemental Budget proposes cutting civil legal service grants by more than $1 million in FY 2010-11. These grants, included in the Supreme Court's budget, help assure that all Minnesotans have access to justice regardless of whether they can afford an attorney. These grants support Legal Aid and pro bono legal programs to help low-income residents pursue employment, housing and other civil cases. The Supplemental Budget calls for a 6 percent cut to grants. When combined with earlier FY 2010-11 cuts, funding would be reduced approximately 10 percent this biennium. Leo Brisbois, president of the Minnesota Bar Association, <a href="http://minnlawyerblog.com/2010/02/18/msba-reacts-to-courts-cuts-in-gov-s-budget/" rel="nofollow">wrote the following</a>: " ...even as more Minnesotans become financially eligible for civil legal aid services, further proposed budget cuts in this area of the Justice System also mean fewer of those clients will be able to receive the legal advice and counsel they need." Mr. Tracy,
Thanks for that important addition. Here are more details:

The Supplemental Budget proposes cutting civil legal service grants by more than $1 million in FY 2010-11. These grants, included in the Supreme Court’s budget, help assure that all Minnesotans have access to justice regardless of whether they can afford an attorney. These grants support Legal Aid and pro bono legal programs to help low-income residents pursue employment, housing and other civil cases. The Supplemental Budget calls for a 6 percent cut to grants. When combined with earlier FY 2010-11 cuts, funding would be reduced approximately 10 percent this biennium.

Leo Brisbois, president of the Minnesota Bar Association, wrote the following:

” …even as more Minnesotans become financially eligible for civil legal aid services, further proposed budget cuts in this area of the Justice System also mean fewer of those clients will be able to receive the legal advice and counsel they need.”

]]> By: Bob Tracy http://minnesotabudgetbites.org/2010/02/24/public-safety-isnt-completely-spared-in-governors-supplemental-budget/#comment-306 Bob Tracy Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:05:31 +0000 http://minnesotabudgetbites.org/?p=4036#comment-306 Yes. Good point about the cuts in the public safety budget. But, in addition to the courts and public defenders, the budget for legal aid was cut, too. And not by the 3% proposed for most other parts of the justice system, but by 6%. Civil legal services is an important part of the justice system, but the impact of their services also have considerable implications in terms of public safety [for example, sexual violence and domestic violence] and economic and health security. Yes. Good point about the cuts in the public safety budget. But, in addition to the courts and public defenders, the budget for legal aid was cut, too. And not by the 3% proposed for most other parts of the justice system, but by 6%. Civil legal services is an important part of the justice system, but the impact of their services also have considerable implications in terms of public safety [for example, sexual violence and domestic violence] and economic and health security.

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