Draft of first Trump budget would cut legal aid for millions of poor Americans

[riversedge]

Source: The Guardian





Draft proposes elimination of Legal Services Corporation, which provides free legal assistance to low-income people, victims of domestic violence and
Tom McCarthy

Tuesday 21 February 2017 15.25 EST
Last modified on Tuesday 21 February 2017 17.04 EST

Cuts in Donald Trump’s first draft budget to funding for legal aid for millions of Americans could strip much-needed protections from victims of domestic violence, people with disabilities, families facing foreclosure and veterans in need, justice equality advocates warned Tuesday.

A Trump draft budget circulated over the weekend called for the elimination of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), which has a $375m annual budget and provides free legal assistance to low-income people and others in need of help, with cases involving disability benefits, disaster relief, elder abuse, fair pay, wheelchair access, low-income tax credits, unlawful eviction, child support, consumer scams, school lunch, predatory lending and much more.

The legal aid program, which represents a miniscule portion of the government’s projected $4tn budget, is one of many small but mighty programs flagged for elimination in Trump’s draft budget. ..................

The possible legal aid cuts would come at a time when potentially softer enforcement by the Trump administration of laws to punish domestic violence, protect Americans with disabilities and combat discriminatory housing practices could create a spike in demand, ...............................

“We’ve already gotten an indication that they’re probably going to cut grants for domestic violence cases, VAWA-related grants, and that’s one of the biggest categories that legal aid grantees use,” Buckwalter-Poza said, referring to the Violence Against Women Act. “This is a huge blow to women in particular, and that’s devastating........................


Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/21/trump-draft-budget-legal-aid-low-income?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. Gotta pay for millionaire tax cuts somehow!

[Thor_MN]

2. If they don't have lawyers on retainers, fuck 'em, says Trumplethinskin

[cstanleytech]

3. More like "If they are poor they deserve to be punished for choosing to be poor."

[maxrandb]

4. Probably because

They've been involved in suits against some of his many businesses

[Equinox Moon]

5. I am working hard to manage my anger.

Republicans and trumpians are sooooo extreme. Their entire agenda is completely opposite of what I believe in for this country. Completely opposite.

[benld74]

6. To quote @MetalOllie

That feckless, hamster-haired wanknobbler !!

[GeoWilliam750]

7. Why do we need foreign media to tell us what is happening in the US?