BOSTON BAR ENCOURAGED BY GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET

BOSTON – After reviewing House 2, the Governor’s spending plan for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2008, Boston Bar Association President Tony Doniger made the following statement:

"We applaud Governor Patrick for recognizing the need to expand civil legal services funding that will begin to bridge the gap between the need for legal assistance by the poor and the ability to meet that need. 

This increase acknowledges the sad reality that legal service providers are stretched so thin that they must turn away the majority of eligible people seeking help with serious legal problems.  Experience tells us that when low income people attempt to navigate the legal system on their own, they face insurmountable obstacles.

Increased funding for civil legal aid is an investment in people, families and communities.  By providing poor people with the legal assistance they need, we can prevent a number of serious and costly problems, including homelessness, lapses in child support payments, and spousal and elderly abuse."

Civil legal aid is funded in House 2 via appropriations to three entities: 

• Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, which received a proposed increase of $2,384,000 for the general fund with increases earmarked as follows -- $135,465 for the Disability Benefits Project, $61,200 for the Medicare Advocacy Project, and $280,127 for the Battered Women's Legal Assistance Project
• Mental Health Legal Advisors, which received a proposed increase of $40,752
• Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services, which received proposed level funding of $840,000