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February 26, 2008

Carcieri staff 're-examining' cuts in services for disabled

Governor Carcieri -- in a statement released just before developmentally disabled people and their family members rallied at the State House against budget cuts -- said he's told his staff to work with the Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals and providers for those disabled to "re-examine" a previously proposed budget cut.

The governor's afternoon statement acknowledged the proposed payment cuts over the next several months "will be particularly difficult for these contractors to absorb." So Carcieri's office, the MHRH and contractors providing the disabled the services will look at options for smaller spending cuts and other money-saving possibilities in the department’s budget.

“Resolving the budget crisis will require spending reductions in every area of state government, including human services," Carcieri said in the statement. "As a result, my revised budget plan for the current fiscal year included a provision that would reduce state payments to agencies that provide services to the developmentally disabled by $2.7 million over the next several months. This was designed as a very small part of the much larger solution to the state’s fiscal crisis.”

Over the last few weeks, Carcieri said, his staff met with community-service agency representatives and "we have come to better understand how difficult it will be for them to absorb all of the planned payment reductions. While we must still achieve the savings, it now appears impractical to expect these providers to shoulder that much burden in the very short time left before the end of the fiscal year in June.”

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:14 PM | Permalink

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First 17-year-olds at ACI, now this. Wouldn't it be refreshing if the governor and his staff could do this sort of research and consultation BEFORE announcing all sorts of changes?

Betsy | February 26, 2008 8:34 PM link

Every budget cycle Carcieri does this....He submits a budget with a myriad of cuts (Remember he was going to close the DMV's?) then announces a change of heart. He's trying to have his cake AND eat it too!! Budget is already submitted and any changes are up to the General Assembly, NOT him but he tries to get favorable publicity thinking we are so stupid! He is such a poor politican and human being!! He'll take food away from the elderly, care from the disabled, immunizations from the youngsters....then get a tan at his WATERFRONT second home in Florida!!

Leslie | February 26, 2008 11:17 PM link

I wouldn't want to be Carcieri when it's time for him to meet his Maker. In the meantime,I'm embarassed that this petty,mean-spirited man is our governor.

catherine | February 27, 2008 5:48 AM link

Rethink????? Making these kinds of cuts isn't even an option.Why is it that those who are fragile ,can't speak or defend themselves are always at the top of the hit list? Government does this "because they can".What does anyone think will happen if services are taken away? Most direct care people who service the MHRH and disabled volunteer a ton of time beyond regular work trying to make the lives of those who constantly are getting smacked by society a little more tolerable.Glaired at,made fun of,talked over,ignored, and just plain treated like a non person are just a few of the many obsticles people with mental and physical disabilites deal with on a daily bases.Not to mention those who can't dress,feed,wash or bathroom themselves.Years of fighting to help these people move foward and fit into society is greatly jeopardized and will have a direct impact on them,their families and their well being.Your first speach,Mr Governor,with those words "let them all feel the pain" lingers in my brain like a bad but catchy song that just won't go away.Bad decissions today ALWAYS have bad repercussions tomorrow as in a big come back of institutions.Please,rethink and rethink again before you make such a bad decission.It's not just a part of goverment business.Litterally,the future of many defenceless people will ride on what words you put on paper today.The following saying seems very appropriate.I pray you tape it to your desk,next to your pen. "PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID,OR WHAT YOU SAID BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL"

Donna | February 27, 2008 8:36 AM link

February 26, 2008

Carcieri staff 're-examining' cuts in services for disabled

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