Pennsylvania disability advocates rally at state capital

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

HARRISBURG -- A group of disabled people railed against a state Senate-passed budget proposal May 31, saying that deep cuts to key programs would force more disabled people out of their homes and into nursing homes.

"This is a prison sentence for people with disabilities," said Sandi Weber of the North Hills, a member of the Disability Budget Coalition. "This budget makes no sense."

The coalition wants $435.1 million spent on key programs such as personal assistants for the disabled, long-term care for elderly and short-term equipment loans. The $27.3 billion Republican budget, which still needs House action, would cut that request by 10 percent. Coalition members called that fiscally and morally irresponsible.

June 30 is the deadline for approving a new state budget on time. The coalition's rally highlighted the large divide between Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell and Senate Republicans as they stare down a revenue shortfall of at least $3 billion. Mr. Rendell has proposed spending $29 billion in fiscal 2009-10, considerably more than the GOP.

Rendell aide Chuck Ardo and Johnna Pro, spokeswoman for Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, agreed that cuts to social services would affect some of the state's most vulnerable citizens.

"Local taxpayers [somehow] will end up picking up the cost if the state cuts funding," Ms. Pro said. "Practically speaking, a small increase in the [personal income tax] would help us to lessen the impact of the financial crisis. Politically speaking, that's a little more difficult."

Some spending cuts, federal stimulus money and part of the state's Rainy Day Fund also would have to be included in the budget, she added.

But Senate Republican spokesman Erik Arneson said the severe revenue shortfall meant that many "important and worthwhile" budget items had to be cut to balance the budget without any new taxes. Mr. Arneson said GOP senators are "overwhelmingly" hearing their constituents call for spending cuts, not tax increases.

But coalition co-chair Linda Anthony said the cost to the state would ultimately increase if the cuts are made. Some disabled people might be placed in "germ-infested" nursing homes and the state would end up paying more to support them there, she claimed.

"There are those that say 'no tax increases,'" Ms. Anthony said. "We say, 'If it means we will live free, if it means we will get to keep working and paying our taxes, and if it means we will get to grow old beside the one we love, then taxes we will pay.'"

Members said they supported the Rendell budget proposal, which roughly maintains funding for key programs in their agenda.

In recent years, the state has invested in home and community-based programs that have improved access to services and created greater independence for those with disabilities, coalition spokeswoman Terry Roth said.