Schwarzenegger Victimizes Victims

I’m sitting at my office trying to get our domestic violence Task Force newsletter done, when this news flash came across “California Governor Cuts 100-percent of Domestic Violence Funds. . . In an unprecedented move, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has cut 100-percent of domestic violence funding, leaving women's shelters wondering how they're going to deal with the loss.--- Ninety-four women's shelters statewide are affected. Laurin Pause, Executive Director for Community Resource Center, says half of those shelters might close.”
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) immediately responded saying, “His line-item veto of the state's $20 million anti-family violence program is an attempt to bail out California's budget deficit by targeting the programs whose users are the least likely to speak out and fight back because they are too busy struggling to save their lives, their children and their physical safety.” They asked that we make calls to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
He has two offices, I called both.
The L.A. office (213-897-0322) explained with. “Well, California is in a fiscal crisis—and we decided this is a place we could cut expenses.” When I expressed my concern that in times of fiscal crisis, that violence against women often escalates, he didn’t know what to say, except that “I’ll be sure to pass along your concerns.” I called the Sacramento office number (916-445- 2841), there an aide says blithely that “Its ‘only’ state contributions that have been cut, many of the shelters will be able to continue using their federal funds & local funds.” When I again expressed my concern that in times of fiscal crisis, that violence against women often escalates, he said this is not a gender issue—it’s a pragmatic move by the state. I asked him how many other programs had the Governor "pragmatically" cut by 100%, he stammered around and admitted “well, not very many.”