"To provide services to every individual on the waiting list would require a total expenditure of $20 million." --- HMMM, did't these capitol hill dorks give $35 million to Dave Checketts for a dumb soccer stadium??? Funding the disabled would've saved the state $15 million. But, unfortunately, the disabled can't give the senators/reps free tickets to the games.


I'd wish some sad disability on one of the capitol hill jerks but they make enough money with their regular jobs, plus their benefits from being on capitol hill and let's not forget the $$ in the campaign cofers, that a disability would not be a hardship to them. I wish that they could live just one day in the life of one of these disabled persons and really understand the challenges that they and their families face.

Shame on our legislature if they don't fund at the full amount!!

How very sad, the members of the legislature making funding decisions without any knowledge of the impact of their actions. I propose the legislature form a committee to study this issue. Half the members of the committee will randomly select someone on the "waiting list" with whom to spend one business day (one-on-one). The other half will spend a day with someone, selected randomly, who receives services. The committee will report to the legislature at large, making recommendations for funding. Only when the needy have faces, rather than collective numbers, will efforts of conscience reign supreme.
I ask one question of legislators who vote to under-fund the program: What if YOUR GRANDMOTHER, NEPHEW, or DAUGHTER were on the "waiting list" ... how would you vote?

"constraints of having to build state budget that takes into account requests statewide and abiding by the mandate that we propose a balanced budget."

Since we have had a budget surplus, it's not been balanced. The state has lost ground in caring for the less fortunate and it's because they are underspending on programs for the poor.

I am so tired of having Republican morality shoved down my throat and then reading articles like this.