The Commonwealth's Governor Steve Beshear has been under fire since his budget address for proposed cuts in every major state department including dramatic decreases for funding of services for the elderly and disabled, and slashing higher education by 12 percent.
So, when I had to opportunity to meet the Governor today, I made sure he understood how thrilled I am to represent the state's disabled, but also how disappointed I am that he perceives cuts to human services and higher education as necessiary to resolving Kentucky's fiscal crisis.
My arguement to him was that by cutting services for the disabled, merely identify funds in the short-term, but do long-term damage to past gains that furthered independence for so many citizens. I maintain that cuts to higher education institutions stiffle one of the state's most valuable economic engines. By tying the hands of Kentucky's university and college officials, you would not only endanger potential enrollment increases, but you also hinder efforts to keep the best and brightest students in-state. Cuts to higher education will hit disabled students hard because on most campuses the funds needed to ensure programs are inclusive and accommodated will be shifted.
While I was honored to meet Gov. Beshear, I am anxious to see how the budget situation is resolved in the House and Senate. It should also be noted that I battled ice and snow to keep my appointment with the Governor because I think the financial choices being made in Frankfort right now, are critical to the future economic viability of the Commonwealth.
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