Tom Harkin: “I received this morning an article from the Salt Lake Tribune: Utah poor will suffer from U.S. budget cut. Utah's nine…”

“I received this morning an article from the Salt Lake Tribune: Utah poor will suffer from U.S. budget cut. Utah's nine Community Action Programs stand to lose almost half a million over the next three months under a temporary budget approved by the U.S. Congress . . . The 50 percent cut . . . that fund the programs nationally is temporary; lawmakers could restore the money when they approve the final budget, possibly in December or January. Or they might not. In Utah, the losses that take effect Saturday are already forcing layoffs, a scaled-back food and pantry operating hours and the suspension of meal deliveries to thousands of families in crisis. Cathy Hoskins, director of the state's largest Community Action Program, located in Salt Lake city, said they stand to lose $250,000, which translates to 6,000 orders of three-day food supplies for 4,500 households. She has laid off six workers and reduced by a fourth the number of hours that advocates can devote to helping families navigate Medicaid, welfare and other social service programs. Continuing: ``It hurts,'' said Road Home director Matt Minkevich, whose agency could lose $37,000. ``That's the equivalent of about two front-line staff or 3,000 shelter nights.'' This is the time of the year temperatures are starting to drop. Food pantries are running low, and people need help. Katrina hit. We now see there are a lot of poor people in this country, a lot of people that are at the end of their rope.…”