New Releases Volunteer Firefighters, Nebraska Medical Association and Catholic Charities Join Fight Against Initiative 423 Concern that aid to the poor, medical care and emergency services would be jeopardized has prompted three more statewide organizations to join a growing coalition of groups opposed to Initiative 423. The newest members of Nebraskans Against 423 are Catholic Charities, the Nebraska Medical Association and the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighter’s Association. The Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighter’s Association Board of Directors overwhelmingly voted to oppose Initiative 423 and join the Nebraskans Against 423 coalition, said James M. Egr, a retired volunteer firefighter and the NSVFA legal counsel. In Colorado, funds for firefighting and emergency services were cut drastically under that state’s budget lid. “ Initiative 423 won’t help in Nebraska — Colorado’s an example of that,” said Egr. Health care for Nebraskans is also a concern if Initiative 423 is approved. Between 1992 and 2004, the share of low-income children lacking health insurance doubled in Colorado, even as it fell in the nation as a whole. That doubling coincided with Colorado’s 1992 passage of a constitutional amendment very similar to Initiative 423. That and other unfavorable health indicators prompted the Nebraska Medical Association Board of Directors to oppose Initiative 423, said Dale Mahlman, associate executive vice president of the NMA. In recent years, Colorado has plummeted from 24th to 50th in the nation in the share of children receiving their full vaccinations. From April 2001 to October 2002, funding was so low that Colorado could not afford the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) and suspended its requirement that school children be fully vaccinated against those illnesses. Initiative 423 would put a rigid, constitutional cap on the state budget. Resulting cuts in state aid to local government would force school districts, county and city governments to cut programs or raise lost revenues through higher property taxes, fees or other resources. The Catholic Charities Board of Directors voted to oppose Initiative 423 and to join Nebraskans Against 423 in September. Board members cited potential cuts in state programs, particularly in the area of behavioral health and in programs that aid low-income families. “ Our concern is that a number of programs that help the poor would be jeopardized if Initiative 423 is approved,” said A’Jamal Byndon, senior director for public policy for Catholic Charities. More than 50 statewide groups now oppose Initiative 423, including the AARP-Nebraska, the Nebraska Farm Bureau, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Nebraska Hospital Association and the League of Women Voters of Nebraska. For more information, go to this Web site: www.notinnebraska.com