LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Clarification from Representative

This letter is a response to Brenda Bragg Blagg’s editorial on 6/29/2011 and her comments on Governor Beebe’s cutting funds to the therapeutic foster care homes. Ms. Blagg stated legislators haven’t proposed any ideas to reinstate these funds.

So let me make this short and simple: The amount cut is $275,000.

The Governor has a Rainy Day fund of $10.5 Million from which he can move moneys to make up the difference in the foster care budget. We will end this fiscal year with a $76 million surplus - let me repeat that - the state has a $76 million surplus which can be used to fill the $275,000 hole left in the Rainy Day Fund.

The Governor refuses to do this. Why?

Therapeutic foster homes care for children who have serious personality disorders. Some children can be abusive, schizophrenic, have a tendency to violence and even at a young age demonstrate sexual predatory behavior. Most of us would not be willing to accept this responsibility no matter what the state paid. These foster parents must attend special training classes; we need more people to become therapeutic foster parents and God bless those who have.

Our Governor responds to this situation by cutting their funds!

I filed HB 1768 to keep the Governor from playing “The Scrooge game.” This bill stated that if the state has a shortage of funds, state government could not eliminate personnel who have directcontact with the public.

Governors and presidents tend to play this game so the public will “feel the pain” and then the governor can wail about tax cuts or the government needs more revenue. If a few mid-level bureaucrats were terminated, few voters would miss them. No pain there.

The bill failed, so we waited to see who was going to be the sacrificial lambs to the Governor’s “Scrooge Game.” He chose the most powerless, helpless and innocent of citizens: therapeutic foster care children. Shame, shame.

Since Governor Beebe will not take the proper action, we threw out a few suggestions that might be taken during the Fiscal Session. When funds are low, we must make priorities. I believe we shouldput children first - especially foster care as they are wards of the state.

Adults make decisions and adults live with the consequences of their decisions. If adults have problems or misgivings with decisions, there are many outlets beside the state adults can visit for counseling - some free.

Foster children do not have this opportunity.

So one more time:

Please call the Governor’s office at 501-682-2345 and ask him to move a mere $275,000 from the $10.5 Million Rainy Day fund. At the end of the fiscal year, he can move $275,000 from the $76 million surplus to reimburse the Rainy Day Fund.

Thank you,

DONNA HUTCHINSON Arkansas State Representative, District 98

Opinion, Pages 4 on 07/06/2011