Minnesota Disabled are 'unfairly' targeted by state budget cuts, advocates say

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Pawlenty runs for President on the backs of the disabled.
Minnesota Independent

How significant the cuts ultimately turn out to be is difficult to say at this point. Yesterday Pawlenty ruled out a special session or a government shutdown, and threatened to unilaterally make $4.6 billion in cuts. He fired the first shot across the bow by signing off on the legislature's funding bill for the Department of Human Services, but striking $381 million from the General Assistance Medical Care program for childless adults in 2011. Democrats continue to insist that they can work out a compromise budget with the governor.
But no matter who wins the battle at the Capitol, one fallout is clear: There will be significant cuts to services for people with mental and physical disabilities. Given that the Minnesota Department of Human Services consumes roughly 30 percent of the state's general fund, few programs will come away unscathed. But disability advocates charge that their clients are taking a disproportionate hit.
"I think we can make a strong case that vulnerable adults and the programs that protect them are being treated unfairly," says Steve Larson, public policy director for the Arc of Minnesota.
"There seems to be an overemphasis on cutting programs for people with disabilities," adds Bruce Nelson, chief executive officer of the Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota.
"These are our most vulnerable people, along with the elderly. We seem to be moving away from the Minnesota tradition of taking care of those folks who are most in need through no fault of their own."
Thomas Huntley (DFL-Duluth), chairman of the House's Health Care and Human Services Finance Division, disputes that services for people with disabilities are taking a disproportionate hit, but he doesn't doubt the significance of the cuts.
"Are they going to hurt a lot of people?" he asks. "You bet. And I think people will die because of this bill."