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News release

Parents Urge North Carolina Legislature to Give Kids a Strong Foundation as State Budget Is Negotiated

June 15, 2010

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

MomsRising Members Build Tower of Blocks Outside Legislative Building
North Carolina moms and kids built a giant tower out of children’s building blocks outside the Legislative Building this morning, spelling out a message for lawmakers as they head in to budget negotiations: Build a strong foundation for North Carolina kids. The mothers and children assembled the block tower, which spelled out “Build Our Future,” just before going inside to deliver individual building blocks to legislators working on the state budget. Attached to each block was a message from a North Carolina parent, urging lawmakers to protect programs that give kids a great start and a solid foundation.
 
“We understand the state is in financial trouble, but cutting programs that are proven to benefit North Carolina’s children and economy doesn’t make economic sense,” said MomsRising Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. “Just like that block tower, a child needs a solid foundation to stand up strong. We urge lawmakers to continue to invest in the future of North Carolina children.”
 
In the upcoming closed-door negotiations, North Carolina legislators will be considering proposals to cut the state budget for several children’s programs, including Smart Start, NC Health Choice, and infant mortality prevention programs. MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground grassroots organization for moms and everyone who has a mom, and its allies are urging the legislature to continue funding those programs which are so critical to helping children get a good start in life.
 
“As parents, each of us is deeply concerned about making sure our children have healthy starts and bright futures,” said MomsRising North Carolina Chapter Leader Beth Messersmith. “These programs are critical to children’s health development, their futures and the future of our state. We cannot and must not balance the budget on the backs of our kids.”
 
MomsRising collected the messages for the blocks through e-outreaches to its North Carolina members. The messages included:
 
A strong foundation for young children, creates better prepared students and an educated work-force for tomorrow!! Support Health Choice, Smart Start and infant mortality prevention programs please!!
- Sarah, Clayton NC
 
Our Special Needs Son had his choices for More at Four severely cut by the budget cuts you made. Many children in our area are affected by your decision and it will affect them for the rest of their lives.
- Sally, Oak Island
 
Please, please don't stop funding for these programs, this is how some mothers are keeping a job and going to school, if you stop funding for them, what will they do?
- Martha, Rocky Mount
 
PLEASE build a strong foundation for our kids!! Support funding for NC Health Choice, Smart Start & Infant Mortality prevention programs!!!!
Becky, Huntersville
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.