Retiring legislator from LFP’s new district points to problems with Senate budget proposal

Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney

State Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, who represents the 46th district that soon will include Lake Forest Park, says that a new budget proposal from the State Senate appears to be moving to what the House budget proposes for public schools and higher education, but contains major differences in other important areas.

Kenney, who has said she won’t seek another term in the 46th Legislative District, said in a report to constituents early this week, “Those differences represent very divergent values. If the newest proposal is passed as written, some of the most vulnerable people in our state will be devastated."

Kenney said that the proposal from a group of Senate Republicans and conservative Democrats would have these consequences:

• 14,500 disabled people lose their medical coverage
• 10,000 disabled people lose their homes
• 3,350 low-income families lose their only source of income during this recession
• 12,300 low-income families lose their food assistance
• Public money would go to charter schools.