Connecticut Governor Plans to Slash APA Funds

Feb. 11, 2009

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New America Media: Asian American Justice Center

AAJA received the following press release from the AAJC.

Connecticut Governor’s Proposed Cuts to Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission Raises Concerns over Commitment to APA Community

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Feb. 4, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell released her plan to mitigate a projected $300 million budget shortfall for the state. Governor Rell’s proposed budget cuts included eliminating $25,000 that was earmarked for the new Connecticut Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission. The Commission, which was appointed last June by Rell, is tasked with determining how issues such as access to health care, housing, job training or English language instruction affect the state’s Asian Pacific American (APA) population.

“The Connecticut Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission is designed to determine how Connecticut can best work with and provide government services to the APA community in Connecticut,” said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center. “Cutting this necessary funding means the state won’t be equipped to address the unique needs of the extremely diverse and rapidly growing APA community in Connecticut.”

According to the U. S. Census Bureau, Connecticut has the eighth fastest growing APA population in the United States. From 2000 to 2005, Connecticut’s APA population grew by nearly 30 percent.

Narasaki added, “We ask that the Connecticut General Assembly reconsider Governor Rell’s proposed cuts to the Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission. We hope the members of the General Assembly will recognize the Commission’s extremely modest expenses as an investment in the growing APA community of Connecticut.”

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