Gov's line veto takes $207,200 from Shasta Women's Refuge

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's line item veto of the Department of Public Health's Domestic Violence Program, which provides $20.4 million for 94 domestic violence shelters and centers, throughout the state, means that the Shasta Women's Refuge (SWR) is losing $207,200 in funding to its domestic violence services budget.

Services provided by SWR include the operation of an emergency shelter, a 24-hour crisis line, legal advocacy, a children's program and assistance with restraining orders, counseling and other vital support services, said Maggie John, executive director of the local shelter.

"Domestic violence shelters are often the only thing standing between victims and grave physical danger. California's communities cannot sustain their loss," John said.

Last week, the state legislature approved a 20 percent reduction to the program but the Assembly's unwillingness to support two key proposals left a deficit that the Governor sought to fill with additional cuts. Shelters receiving money through this program will, on average, lose 30 percent of their budgets, John explained.

"It is already clear that many programs will be forced to close their doors," she said.

"We are appalled to see the Governor eliminate funding to vital programs that save lives," John said. "State funding to domestic violence programs has been proven to save lives, and also millions of dollars in health care, law enforcement and other social costs. It is fiscally irresponsible to propose such cuts. The Governor is balancing the budget on the backs of our state's most vulnerable citizens."

"State funding for domestic violence changed the landscape for victims seeking to rebuild their lives," said John. "If the Governor's budget cuts are allowed to stand, victims will not have a place to turn for help and lives will inevitably be lost."