HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2017.05.10 - 22919MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #17134
BY: Commissioners Nancy Quarles, District #17; David Woodward, District #19; Helaine Zack, District
#18; David E. S. Bowman, District #10; Janet Jackson, District #21; Gary McGillivray, District #20; and
Marcia Gershenson, District #13
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ELIMINATION OF
THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION (LSC) THROUGH FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies, and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the Legal Services Act of 1974 promotes equal access to justice by providing funding to 133
independent non-profit legal aid programs across America for low-income Americans who cannot afford
legal representation; and
WHEREAS the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) reinforces that access to justice is a fundamental
American value that is reflected in the first line of our Constitution and in the closing words of our Pledge
of Allegiance; and
WHEREAS Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hecht states, "Justice for only those who can afford it is neither
justice for all nor justice at all"; and
WHEREAS children, families, the elderly, veterans, and the disabled are amongst those Americans, some
with incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, who are the recipients served by the
LSC grantees; and
WHEREAS low-income Americans continue the daily struggle to keep their jobs, remain in their homes,
and provide the basic essentials for their families; and
WHEREAS the LCS assures fairness in the justice system and grantees provide the civil legal aid to help
individuals protect their livelihoods, their health and their families; and
WHEREAS in 2014, approximately 1.9 million Americans turned to one of the 813 offices across the
nation that provide civil legal aid through the LSO's grant programs; and
WHEREAS despite LSC's efforts, studies indicate 50% of those in need of civil legal aid are turned away
due to lack of resources; and
WHEREAS in February 2017, it was reported that the LSC's has an annual budget of $375 million to
provide civil-legal aid for cases involving disability benefits, elder abuse, unlawful eviction, wheelchair
access, child support, disaster relief, school lunch, predatory lending and many other cases; and
WHEREAS with the proposed budget cuts by President Trump, millions of poor and low-income
Americans could be striped of the much needed protections from victims of domestic violence, people
with disabilities, families facing foreclosures and the veterans in need — all Americans deserve justice
equality; and
WHEREAS the annual budget of the LSC is just one ten-thousandth of the total federal budget; and
WHEREAS the American Bar Association indicates that the LSC provides civil legal aid to people who
desperately need help, and without their assistance, millions of Americans will have court house doors
slammed in the faces and denied equal access to justice; and
WHEREAS the elimination of the LSC will have an irreparable effect on residents in our local communities
and to citizens across the nation by denying fair and equal access to justice.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners opposes
President Trump's unjustifiable elimination of the LSC and fully endorses the continuation of funding to
protect and ensure all American citizens' rights to fair and equal justice.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward
copies of this adopted resolution to the President of the United States, the United States Congress, the
Speaker of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the
Michigan Congressional delegation, the Governor of the State of Michigan, the State Senate Majority and
Minority Leaders, the State House Speaker and Minority Leader, the Oakland County delegation to the
Michigan Legislature, the Michigan Association of Counties, the American Bar Association, the Michigan
Bar Association, the Oakland Coupty Bar Association, ape trrie)akland County BArd of Commissioners'
leg4tive lobbyists.
C,h4Hper,son, I move to adoptiori of the foregoing rAolution.
C-omrnissier David Woodward
District #19
C Missione
District #17
Commissioner David E. S. Bowman
District #10
Commiisionkr Gary/McGillivray
Districr#20
Commissioner Marcia GerVienson
District #13
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Resolution #17134 May 10, 2017
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee, There were no
objections.