Miss Mom: No help for the helpless?

I was asked recently when I was going to write about politics here on The Spark. The answer was when I found the right topic.

The other day I read a news article that quite frankly upset me even more highly then the budget woes that our state’s education system is undergoing. Currently under proposal in the SC House Ways and Means committee is deciding whether to cut funding for people with disabilities

“The budget approved by a House committee last week would provide services only for 4,800 people with disabilities living in group homes or institutions, the only type of care the federal government requires the state to provide.

Theoretically, others who need help could move to those facilities, but there are only two open slots in the entire system and those are reserved for those in most dire need.

More than half of the proposed cuts in the current version of next year’s $5 billion budget — about $113 million in all — affect Medicaid and other human services programs. The Department of Disabilities and Special Needs would see its funding slashed by $42 million, or 28 percent.” ( SC may gut programs for 26,000 disabled residents)

These cuts are huge and would impact more then the 26,000 individuals who currently get funds from the state. Their families would be forced to make some very tough decisions. So I emailed my state representatives. My original email said, “I urge you to vote an emphatic no on the proposal to cut funding for our citizens with disabilities. There are several options that can be considered that doesn’t eliminate basic needs to people who clearly cannot work to support themselves. A small increase for a sin tax, or sales tax would help offset, other cuts on true non-essentials, unpaid furloughs for legislatures and legislative staffs..all sorts of ideas. Please vote NO on this”

The response I got from Shane Martin, my senate Representative was “I haven’t seen any proposal yet, since I am in the Senate. Most of these issues are in the House Ways and Means Committee right now and I have requested a staff report to let me know what is going on over there. I should have it this afternoon.” I have heard nothing further from his office, yet.

The response I got from Derham Cole was more detailed as he is a member of the State House. He said, “The Ways and Means has voted on a proposed budget. It has not yet been voted on by the full House. I am checking into the issue, but I understand that there may be additional federal funds to offset the proposed cuts to the DDSN budget. The Ways and Means Committee has also proposed a cigarette tax to fund Medicaid shortfalls. The legislature is taking three unpaid furlough weeks this session. We took five last year.

The reality is that we are in a dire budget situation, and we are working to minimize cuts to essential services. I appreciate your expressing your concerns on this issue, and please let me know if I can be of further assistance.”

I have a very high level of doubt that Federal Funding will come through for our disabled citizens if this budget cut is approved. Why? Because I have a friend who is the parent of a son who has Cerebral Palsy and Fragile X Syndrome. The state in which they live has very little in the way of funding. Right now he gets SSI and is on Medicaid, but his mother is finding it increasingly difficult to find a doctor who takes that insurance. All other funding such as assistance for facilities he can be at while she works, food stamps, housing allowances, things that would grant this young man greater independence are gone. She fears if something happens to her, that her son would be institutionalized. My friend, has good reason to be concerned, and it is her story that has my concerns for my fellow SC citizens on disabilities on a very high level. I urge you to read Gail’s story, it could be a story we could see repeated here in our own state.

One of the problems I am seeing in all this, is that our legislature keeps cutting funding to help our balance, as well as doing tax cuts in hopes that it will spur sales in certain sectors. However there is very little in the way of looking to increase revenue. It makes little economic sense to keep cutting items in our expense column, and ignore the income column.

So I emailed Mr. Cole back. In this email, I said “I appreciate your quick response to my inquiry, and I appreciate the answers. However I am still leery of what could happen to our disabled residents. I have a friend in another state, who’s legislature did similar cuts. Her severely disabled son now gets no funding for anything except a small social security check that doesn’t begin to cover his needs. My concern is that there will be more stories here in South Carolina like this young man and his mother’s.

A increase on cigarette taxes will help a bit, but maybe adding a small tax to other items, such as alcohol, fast food, or maybe a small percentage increase in the state sales tax. I am surprisingly relieved to learn that the state has taken unpaid leave. It likely helps you understand what other employees in our state are experiencing. However, I know that we can only cut so much before serious ramifications will begin to be shown. Raising revenue is the only other way. Depending on Washington to cover our shortfall is, to me, unrealistic. It seems they are having a hard time deciding how to spend funds as it is.”

I also informed Mr. Cole that I would be writing on this topic and invited more input from him. I know that it is going to take some sacrifice, hard work, time and wisdom to get our budget back on track. I also know that South Carolina is not the only state in this boat, and that at least two other states are proposing budget cuts for people with disabilities. South Carolina’s just happen to be the most harsh. None of the other states in question are getting that budget shortfall alleviated by the Federal government. It is doubtful we will either. We like everyone else on this are on our own, with little help from Washington. They got their own “lets fix the mess with our budget” issues.

Is there an easy solution to this? I don’t know. What I have suggested may or may not help. Personally I would prefer paying an extra cent per dollar on sales tax then see the ripple effect that could be caused if this particular budget cut is passed. I am concerned that it will put even more people out of work, more people having to choose which to buy, medicine or groceries, and cause more problems then solutions. Paying a few cents more for french fries or a cute pair of shoes won’t kill us, and if it helps those who utterly depend on others then I cannot bemoan that price increase. Part of the budget proposal is another tax increase on cigarettes to help offset Medicaid. I don’t think it’s enough, and I would have to take up smoking for that tax to affect me. I only smoke if you light a match to me.

I know several people that cutting funds for people with disabilities would directly affect. I am sure that you know some too. Let’s hope that our legislature considers the people impacted by their decisions and any consequences their budget decisions may incur along with trying to reign in that budget towards a more balanced level.