Street Roots • April 7-13, 2017
Commentary
Page 12
Fund legal services for the poor
qual justice under law” is a core value community block grants for affordable
of our nation. But what happens
housing.
when a victim of domestic violence,
Last year, the LSC’s budget was $385
or an older adult facing eviction, can’t afford
million. That’s 0.01 percent of the total
a lawyer? What happens when millions of
federal budget. By contrast, the Department
Americans don’t have access to justice?
of Defense receives $602 billion, 16 percent
We may be about to find out. For more
of federal spending. In fact, the government
than 40 years, Congress has funded legal
spends more on our 137 military bands
services for low-income Americans.
($437 million) than on legal services for the
poor.
President Donald Trump recently proposed
to defund the Legal Services Corporation,
Oregon
or LSC. Here’s why it matters to all of us.
In Oregon, we believe in justice for all -
Background
not just for those who can afford it.
The LSC was created by the Legal
Each year, legal aid provides free civil
Services Corporation Act of 1974. In an
legal services to more than 22,000 poor and
earlier message to Congress, President
elderly Oregonians. It focuses on essential
Nixon said, “[hjere each day the old, the
legal services: food, shelter, medical care,
unemployed, the underprivileged, and the
civil rights and safety.
largely forgotten people of our Nation may
Around 850,000 low-income Oregonians
seek help.”
qualify for free legal services. Currently,
The LSC has enjoyed bi-partisan support
there is only one legal aid lawyer for every
ever since.
8,500 people.
Warren Rudman, a former Republican
Legal aid programs are funded by a
Senator from New Hampshire, was an
unique federal, state and private
eloquent defender of the program: “The
partnership. The annual budget is roughly
legal services program is based on a very
$15 million. One third comes from direct
simple, conservative, and critically
federal funding, while another third comes
important premise. Respect for the rule of
from the state. In 2014, Governor Kate
law, and faith in our country’s system of
Brown signed a law directing some of the
justice, cannot exist among people who have funds from unclaimed damages in class
no meaningful access to our courts.”
action lawsuits to legal aid.
The Bar has stepped up as well. The
The late - and famously conservative -
Campaign for Equal Justice was formed
Justice Antonin Scalia once said that the
LSC “pursues the most fundamental of
in 1991. It has raised $26 million to
American ldfeals, and it pursues equal
support the important work of legal aid.
justice in those areas of life most important
The elimination of the LSC would be
to the lives of our citizens.”
catastrophic for our state. Oregon would
Closer to home, our two Democratic
lose nearly $4.6 million in federal
Senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and
funding.
Republicans Gordon Smith and Mark
My Dad
Hatfield before them, have been outspoken
For me, this fight is personal.
champions of legal aid.
As a law student at Northeastern, I
Federal Funding
volunteered at Jamaica Plains Legal
In order to fund a big increase in the
Services. I helped disabled clients
military budget, and a wall with Mexico,
qualify for Supplemental Security
President Trump has proposed eliminating
Income benefits. And for 20 years I
funding for legal services, the arts, and
have been a proud foot soldier in the
E
Nick Fish is a
Portland City
Commissioner. He
was a civil rights
lawyer before he was
elected to the Council
in 2008.
MARKET
pedbple’s FARMERS’
WEDNESDAYS 2-7PM
JL
'
Campaign for Equal Justice.
My dad served in Congress and was a
strong supporter of legal services. In 1995,
President Bill Clinton asked him to serve on
the LSC board. I helped him fill out the
necessary paperwork. Unfortunately, he
died before he could be confirmed for the
position.
When going through his papers, I found a
draft of an essay he wrote, titled, “Why this
Republican Believes in Legal Services for
the Poor.” He wrote as follows:
“If a member of my family were poor, and
needed civil legal help, I would want them
to get it. Who wouldn’t? Legal services
attorneys meet this vital need and the Legal
Services Corporation deserves the support
of all of us - Republicans, Democrats, and
Independents alike.”
Congress should reject any reduction in
funding for the LSC, and continue the
proud American tradition of bi-partisan
support for equal justice under law.
7-7 - <
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