Clergy seek delay in some budget cuts

A poor and uninsured single mom who said she was forced by financial circumstance to make a horrible and tragic health-care decision for one of her three children joined with a group of Utah church leaders in a plea to the state Legislature Sunday to save human-services programs from steep budget reductions expected to be enacted in the upcoming legislative session.

Barbra Moeller's story dates back to 2003 when her ill and diabetic son, Jason, was desperately in need of an insulin injection at a time when she could not afford the $90 dollar prescription, was not covered by insurance and did not know where to turn. Thinking she could take advantage of the "placebo effect," Moeller injected her son with plain water after running out of insulin. Three days later, the boy was hospitalized in a diabetic coma.

"I made a horrible decision and it nearly killed by son," Moeller said.

"But, I was led to a position of desperation because there is not health care in America for everyone," Moeller said. "I don't know how to fix that; I wish I did."

In an attempt to keep people out of the desperate straits Moeller found herself in and protect existing programs for underprivileged citizens of Utah, Pastor Steve Klemz of Salt Lake's Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church presented a formal entreaty to the Legislature to delay making any cuts in the realm of human services until after Presidents Day on Feb. 16.

The letter cites that date as the deadline promised by federal congressional leaders for a vote on the enormous stimulus package now being considered.

More than 25 clergy members from throughout Utah signed the letter along with Pastor Klemz, who described himself as "very concerned and quite frankly, outraged" at programs currently on a list, generated by the Legislature's fiscal analyst, for possible reductions or elimination.

Moeller said the power to protect the less fortunate in Utah resides with lawmakers.

"The legislators whom we've paid to help us are about to make amazing decisions," Moeller said. "With the stroke of a pen and a little bit of courage they can help people live, or, by that same pen, they can condemn people to death."

Moeller's son Jason, now 26, eventually emerged from his coma but was left with permanent learning disabilities.

Moeller said he had to relearn to walk and speak but is now a student at Salt Lake Community College.

E-mail: araymond@desnews.com