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Concerned Citizens Rally Over Cuts to Human Services

By Kacey Drescher

Story Created: Mar 11, 2011 at 12:03 AM MDT

Story Updated: Mar 11, 2011 at 8:41 PM MDT

As the House plans to deliberate cuts from the Governor's proposed budget tomorrow, a rally at the Capitol today urged lawmakers to restore funding to human services.

Disability rights and senior citizen advocates gathered to protest the over $130 million cut in human services needs.

The Big Sky RX program was cut by over 60 percent. Demonstrators say if it isn't restored, over 7,000 low-income seniors and disabled Montanans will struggle to afford their Medicare Part-D prescription drug premiums.

“People with disabilities and seniors want to live our own lives in our own homes and in our own communities and we don’t want the Legislature to continue to cut, make unnecessary cuts because we know there is the funding there, we’re not talking about a lot of money but we’re talking about programs that mean the world to citizens of Montana,” says Travis Hoffman a Montana Independent Living Lobbyist.

Cuts made to personal assistance programs that allow those with disabilities and seniors to be cared for at home were reduced to a level that only allows four hours of help per week to cook and shop for groceries.

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duh said on Friday, Mar 11 at 8:46 AM

Instead of hitting those welfare abusing SOBs the government is taking programs from those who really deserve it. It figures the, inner chimp.

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