LSC announces: "Fifty-three Senators have signed on to a letter asking key
appropriators to provide at least $435 million for the Legal Services Corporation in
fiscal year 2010 - a $45 million increase over current funding levels and the amount
requested by President Obama. Forty-five Democrats, six Republicans and two
Independents signed the letter. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) was the lead sponsor
of the letter and has sent similar letters requesting increases for LSC for at least
the last eight years . . . . The letter notes that the increase for LSC is
necessary to meet 'the greater need that exists today because of the economic
crisis, which has increased the number of foreclosures, the numbers of the
unemployed, and the number of individuals and families who now qualify for federally
funded legal aid.' The letter also points out that current funding levels are still
far less, in real dollars, than what LSC received nearly 15 years and 30 years ago .
. . . Freshman Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) issued a press release on May 14
to announce her support for the increase. 'As a former attorney, I know how
important it is for all New Yorkers to get the legal representation they deserve,'
she said. 'But too many New York families are getting left behind when it's their
day in court. We need to give the LSC the resources it needs to handle more cases,
provide representation for more of New York's low-income families and move toward
better equality in our justice system.'"