BATON ROUGE, LA (AP) -
House Bill 1, the proposed budget for the 2012- 2013 fiscal year, is now in the hands of the Senate Finance Committee.
In a public hearing Saturday, people expressed their concerns over the $268 million cut that would hit higher education and healthcare the hardest. While higher education is a big issue here in Baton Rouge, parents and therapists from all over Louisiana came to express their deep concern over the possible cuts of programs for disabled adults and children.
"All the services targeted to be cut are vital to Louisiana citizens," said Kay Marcell.
"I'm here as a father. I'm begging you. Don't do this," said Chuck Brown.
The day was filled with testimony after testimony from emotional parents and caregivers. They are all terrified of what will become of Louisiana's disabled populations with the proposed budget cuts in House Bill 1. The house of representatives wants to cut $268 million from the state's budget. Of that, $100 million would come from the Department of Health and Human Services.
"Without question to achieve $100 million we have to go into critical services to vulnerable populations," said Bruce Greenstein, DHH secretary.
Early Steps is one of the programs that would have to go with these cuts. The program provides in-home therapy to approximately 5,000 zero to three- year olds with developmental disabilities across the state. Therapy many parents say has made a world of difference.
"She's able to speak, to walk, to do everything independently," said Kim Trahan, the parent of a child in Early Steps.
This is where our patients potential is the greatest, and they deserve every opportunity we can give them," said Lauren Ventura, an Early Steps physical trainer.
Advocates for Early Steps say by saving this program, the state will save millions of dollars in the future. DHH estimates that, each year, the state spends $2,300 dollars on each early steps family. Kristi Cole says because her adopted daughter didn't receive early intervention when she was in foster care, the state is spending a lot more.
"Now we receive OT, speech, cognitive services that she'll have to have until I can no longer afford, or the state of Louisiana can no longer afford to pay for them," said Cole.
These parents and caregivers pray their heartfelt messages get through to the committee, and this is the last time they have to defend these programs.
"There's no reason for, every single year, these same programs are having to come and fight over and over to keep their money in place," said Shannon Woodside, the parent of a child in Early Steps.
Senate Finance Committee chairman Jack Donahue says he and the committee understand the importance of programs like Early Steps. He says they will keep that in mind as they review the budget.
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