With the economy in decline and the demand for services skyrocketing, members of the Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition reacted to the Governor’s 2009-11 operating budget with concern.

The Children’s Alliance today released the following statement in response to Governor Chris Gregoire’s proposed budget cuts:

“Cuts in the governor’s proposed budget yank the safety net out from under hundreds of thousands of children around Washington State,” said Jon Gould, Deputy Director of the Children’s Alliance. “Without a more creative approach—one that looks at increasing revenue through closing loopholes and other means—children and families in our state will suffer. Now more than ever children and families need the economic stability and support that programs like Apple Health for Kids, child care subsidies and food stamps provide. We look to our legislators to show the vision being demonstrated by president-elect Barack Obama who is investing in families to bring our nation out of the economic difficulties we now face.”

The Children's Alliance 2009 End Childhood Hunger policy paper lays out our priorities for the 09 legislative session: support struggling families to provide at least two meals a day.