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“It’s very demoralizing back at the agency playing God and deciding who gets to eat and who doesn’t,” Kathy Pontin, director of Food Services for FSW Inc., in Bridgeport said explaining that the organization makes a list of clients to serve, but could only get to so many because of cuts.
“The thing is we don’t always answer the bell because we can’t,” Alan Mathis, president and CEO of Liberation Programs, said. He went on to explain that he used to be able to guarantee hope to clients, and now can’t because of a lack of resources to help them find housing and jobs.
Many also described a domino effect that is hampering aid. When funds were better they would help each other fully service clients. However, with limited funds they are no longer to do that.
Murphy, D-CT, stressed the importance of changing the message about taxes when speaking to others, explaining that people should not just say they are for raising taxes, but for improving the lives of many others in the community. He added that they should also make sure they explain that supporting their organizations ultimately saves money for other programs like Medicare, Medicaid and federal prisons.
The senate will be meeting in the fall to address the debt ceiling and in order to avoid another crisis, deals may be worked to end at least parts of the sequester, though Murphy was not optimistic. He does believe it will end, and stressed the organizations urge national chapters to take stances to get others in the senate to change their perspective.
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