Hundreds of Oklahomans rally at state Capitol for senior meals
By Michael McNutt - Capitol Bureau
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56
Published: November 4, 2009
About 400 Oklahomans crowded around the second-floor rotunda of the state Capitol today to ask state leaders to restore funding to senior nutrition programs.
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Gov. Brad Henry, whose office is on the same floor, did not attend. But he spent Tuesday night and early this morning talking to advocates about a possible solution to the financial crisis.
Charles Campbell, a coordinator of today's rally, said Henry called him Tuesday evening and told him that the state Department of Human Services, which cut $7.4 million from the senior nutrition program because of state revenue shortfalls, is willing to use money earmarked for other programs but not due to be spent until later this fiscal year.
Campbell, who like Henry is from Shawnee, said the governor told him that DHS Director Howard Hendrick wanted assurances from the Republican legislative leadership that the money will be restored to his department when lawmakers return in special session in February.
Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, who with Sen. Tom Ivester, D-Elk City, camped out overnight on the Capitol grounds, said the governor stopped by their tent about 12:30 this morning and told him about his idea.
Corn said he liked the idea. But if Republican legislative leaders don't agree, he still supports the calling of a special session. He and other legislators signed petitions today asking for a special session. He has to get two-thirds of the 101-member House and 48-member Senate to sign the petition to get a special session called. Minority House leader Danny Morgan, D-Prague, said House Democrats would not seek being paid for their expenses to keep costs of a special session down.
AARP Oklahoma gave people empty paper plates to show how Oklahoma's greatest generation — the name given to those who fought in World War II — is now fighting hungry. They were asked to sign their names and give it to their legislators.
Marjorie Lyons, volunteer state president of AARP Oklahoma, said the funding cut is affecting thousands of elderly Oklahomans.
"From north to south, east to west, in cities and towns like Edmond, Calera, Maysville, Caddo, Wynnewood, Roff, Commerce, Choteau and Locust Grove, senior nutrition sites are no longer serving lunch," said Lyons, of Broken Arrow. "And you won't find a meal on any Friday between now and the end of the fiscal year in Enid, Ponca City, Newkirk, Blackwell or Billings."
Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, called again on Henry to use 5 percent of his $105 million in discretionary federal stimulus funds for the program. The governor earlier said those funds already were committed and they are to be spent on one-time projects.
The state Department of Human Services cut $7.4 million earmarked for some senior nutrition programs to deal with a monthly 5 percent cut in state funding. Those monthly funding cuts are expected to continue through June, the end of this fiscal year, because state revenue has come in 26 percent below estimates for the first quarter.
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SNAP is a federal program, so your solution is not as simple as pulling SNAP benefits from qualifying families and giving them to the seniors.
All the problems of our economy are that of our government who have given and given to the big guy and themselves and taken from us, the hard working.
This just points out the difficulty of government trying to cut spending and save money. Somebody's favorite program will have to be cut. 7.5 million. Let's see...how much now did we give to Chesapeak Energy in tax breaks and special treatment. How much again did we provide for the NBA franchise to come here? Money for services doesn't grow on trees like dappiesdad says.
Don't they "claim" to raise a billion or so a year?
Whats a couple million to get this program back on track when they're raising "billions"?
Oh, that's right, this won't benefit him, and he's got those illegal wiretaps to contend with, doesn't he??
BTW, where's the rest of the mega churches in okieland who bilk the lemmings out of millions every year? How come they aren't stepping up??
My mother was the first site director for Areawide in Crescent. I know how important this program is!
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My bf’s grandma worked from 13 until she retired. From 16 on, she worked for DHS and retired from there. She never got public assistance. We have been helping her buy groceries for the last 2 years and she hates it every time. I wait until she’s at church and then we sneak groceries into her pantry & refrigerator now. Her church doesn’t have enough money to buy her groceries. She is a proud woman at 82 years old. You could say that she should swallow some pride, but she isn’t asking for a handout. She was going to the senior luncheon at the park every day, but even some of that is what she and the other members cooked at home and brought in to serve. She goes mostly to see her friends and have someone to gossip with. But the elderly folks need to eat too. She is worried now they are going to cut out the program. She’s a simple woman who has led a simple life, but I think now she deserves better. Then again, since she's a Republican, maybe she should just starve.
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There is only a certain amount of money available in the Rainy Day Fund that can be tapped. It is best to let the agencies determine how best to reduce or restore their budgets. I'm sure this will most likely be the first program restored by DHS once the Rainy Day Fund is tapped. However, until such time as the Fund is tapped, then programs and services will have to be reduced or eliminated. Sadly, that is the reality of the budget shortfall.
--Very predictable.
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If you want numbers – look at this: within the last two weeks some $223 million in hidden 2007 state income tax credits have been uncovered. The Oklahoma Tax Commission, Administrator, Tony Mastin, the one person with sole control and access to tax credit info had only been reporting $69 million of those tax credits on Open Books. We now know that number should be more like $292 million.
This fraud has been operating since at least 2005. Mastin is allowing tax credits of as much as 30% (and possibly 40 and 50%) on bogus investments claims. Claims based on fake bank loan documents and in name only LLCs.
This is one reason for our tax revenue shortfall. The reason this has been allowed to occur is no one knows because state lawmakers passed a bill to keep this program operating in secrecy.
Brad Henry, and republicans, are discussing stripping $7.4 million from this program while their buddies are pocketing $100s million in return for a few jobs like at Quartz Mountain Aerospace that just filed bankruptcy. A group invested $32 million in QMA, then used a $389 million fake loans to claim $126 million in tax credits. Then sold many of those tax credits, for half-price. QMA never had more than 100 employees and that was only for a short period. And, this is only one program. Affinity Ventures used the remaining $254 of a total $643 million fake loan scheme to steal another $76 million in tax credits.
While we are all gnashing out teeth over where to cut, what do not know is occurring is stealing us blind. Look at prowlingowl.com
Republicans care about people? Are you kidding?
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It may not occur to you, Milkman - but Independents and Republicans also care about ALL people of the United States -- NOT just Democrats.
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