Dozens protest cuts in human services budget

from the Portland Press Herald 2/8 Speakers describe their experiences to illustrate how much they rely on the state help they get. By SUSAN M. COVER, Blethen Maine News Service AUGUSTA — Dozens of people came to the State House on Thursday to protest proposed cuts in several parts of the state's human services budget, including help for the deaf and those who rely on home care. They came in wheelchairs and brought their guide dogs. They spoke passionately through interpreters. They described their experiences with state services as a way to illustrate how much they rely on the help they get. "I have no idea what my life would look like today without this program," said Bill Bouffard of Westbrook, who suffered a spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic when he was 17. Bouffard and others benefit from a state program that sends aides to their homes to help with tasks such as personal care, cooking and cleaning. The state is proposing to cut funding for the program by $2 million, which would affect 130 to 140 people. At Thursday's hearing, the Legislature's Appropriations Committee listened to consumers who would be affected by cuts in the proposed supplemental budget. Gov. John Baldacci proposed the cuts when state revenue to support the $6.3 billion state budget came in $95 million under initial estimates. On Thursday, lawmakers were starting to consider an additional reduction in the budget that could require them to cut $99 million more. Rather than continue to make cuts to individual programs, Sen. Joseph Brannigan, D-Portland, told the Department of Health and Human Services that he wants a list of big cuts to major services, such as discontinuing hospital payments, closing mental health hospitals, and cuts to services for children and the elderly. Those who came to the State House this week are worried about the first $95 million in cuts, however. Several people who are deaf testified before the committee to protest proposed cuts to the multicultural services account. DHHS Commissioner Brenda Harvey said the cuts are designed to affect the administration, not the services, of the program. Many who testified said they worry about the loss of available interpreters, particularly those who help deaf people who are mentally ill. Christine Holler of Portland spoke for many when she signed the words "slap in the face." "I feel if the Legislature cuts these funds it is a slap in the face," she said through an interpreter. "I ask you to think. Where is your heart?"