Programs providing legal services to the poor escape budget cuts

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus directed the Legislative Budget Board staff to notify state agencies to make $1.2 billion in cuts in their 2010-2011 budgets to reduce a deficit, according to a press release from the governor’s office. But, as noted in the LBB document, “Final Target Reduction Amounts for State Agencies and Institutions of Higher Education,” the state leaders have exempted from those cuts about $1.15 million allocated for civil legal services to the poor and another $3.4 million for indigent criminal defense grants for counties. Jim Sales, chairman emeritus of the Texas Access to Justice Commission, says the commission is grateful the funding for civil legal services to the poor has been spared from the cuts. “It means a lot to over 5 million people in this state who are dependent on some help,” says Sales, of counsel at Fulbright & Jaworski in Houston. In a Jan. 15 letter, the state leaders had asked all state agencies to submit a plan identifying 5 percent in savings in their budgets, according to the press release from the governor’s office. Funding for the legal services programs for the poor had been identified for possible cuts. As noted in the LBB document, the state leaders also have exempted a retiring judge’s position on the Court of Criminal Appeals from the cuts. The CCA had identified possible savings that could be realized if the court asked Perry not to appoint a replacement for CCA Judge Charles Holcomb when he retires on Dec. 31. CCA Presiding Judge Sharon Keller says the CCA had identified possible savings totaling $191,328 if the governor did not appoint Holcomb’s replacement in 2011. Referring to the exemption authorized by the state leaders, Keller says, “This means we will be continuing with nine judges.”
-- Mary Alice Robbins

Comments

[Victorianne Maxwell, Charlotte]

All taxpayers deserve access to legal resources and Attorneys. Non-profits like legal aid are important in our society with access they would not otherwise have or afford for necessary problems such as housing and immigration issues. great post thanks!

[Joe Marchelewski, Los Angeles, Cali]

What exactly does it say about us that even while living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, 5 million people in the state cannot afford to pay for their own legal services?