Unfettered Letters

Some disabilities aren’t visible

On June 25, four family members and I went to the Kansas City Zoo. Two family members rented two electric carts. One of them was my youngest daughter. She looked very healthy, slender and younger than her age. Well, people stared and whispered because of her healthy appearance.

But looks can be deceiving. Nine days earlier she had major surgery to give one of her kidneys to her 16-year-old stepson, and this was her first outing since the surgery. All the stares and whispers didn’t spoil our day, because we knew the truth.

We’re very proud of you, Michelle, for your unselfish gift. You’re our hero!

To all those who stared and whispered, maybe when you see someone using carts or disabled parking, give them the benefit of doubt. They could have a very good reason for it, healthy-looking or not.

Carolyn Laird
Grandview

Patience, please, in parking lot

I am not disabled, but have a disabled placard for when my 4-year-old with cerebral palsy is with me. Because she is unable to sit, stand, hold on, ride in a cart or bend, those larger spots allow me to get her safely in and out of the car.

While leaving the grocery store recently — pushing my daughter in the stroller, pulling the cart behind me and hanging onto my 2-year-old — someone started honking. Not realizing the honking was directed at me (who honks at someone with a placard?) I loaded up my kids while trying to hang onto the cart.

When I realized the honking was at me, I looked around and saw there were several open disabled parking spots. I figured the person assumed I shouldn’t be using that spot, so I decided a polite explanation was in order, to which the man told me I needed to be more considerate and move faster. I pointed out the open disabled spots, but he needed the one where I was parked because he couldn’t walk that far.

I couldn’t help but wonder who would be the inconsiderate person if someone were honking at him for not moving fast enough.

Debbie Niemann
Leawood

Scooter user encounters rudeness

I use to be able to walk through Independence Center people-watching and shopping without any difficulty. I would occasionally encounter someone rude, but usually people were polite. I saw Independence Center from a different perspective last Friday.

This was my first time out at a mall using a mobility scooter. Shoppers apparently couldn’t see me. I had to back down aisles that were very narrow. I had to wait for the elevator longer because people wouldn’t shift to let me on, and I had trouble getting off because of people trying to get on as I exited. One person actually told me to get out of the way in the pet store. I also found that many items were out of my reach. It was so frustrating.

The trip really opened my eyes and heart to all of us who are mobility-challenged and aren’t eye-level with the rest of the world. We, too, have eyes, thoughts and feelings. I don’t expect any special treatment. I do expect to be treated with the same courtesy and dignity as others.

Annette Briggs
Odessa, Mo.

Help for stuttering

As the parents of a child who stutters, my wife and I enjoyed your article “Sproles working to overcome stuttering” (5/8, Sports) about former Kansas state star and current San Diego Chargers star Darren Sproles and his courageous struggle with stuttering. So much about stuttering in movies is negative, so it was a breath of fresh air to read your positive article. I am sure that it will help both children and adults who stutter in terms of getting speech therapy.

I was happy to see that Sproles has given his name to the Stuttering Foundation of America (stutteringhelp.org). Their Web site has a national listing of qualified speech therapists in addition to offering countless DVDs and books on the speech disorder.

I am certain that virtually every parent of a child who stutters would agree that Darren Sproles is an excellent role model for young people who stutter.

Maurice T. Reardon
Grandview

Removing ‘retardation’

We wish to clear up misunderstandings that some people have regarding SB756 and HB1627/2076. Both bills would remove the words “mental retardation” from the title of the Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Most of Missouri understands this is a simple name change, though some opponents have some misinformation.

One misunderstanding is that mental retardation is distinctly different from a developmental disability. In reality, mental retardation is one of a variety of developmental disabilities.

Another misunderstanding is that this would somehow remove people with that diagnosis from services or eligibility. In fact, a name change would not change the mission, those eligible for services or those receiving services from the Division or contract providers. The legislation clearly states that.

Advocates have been working to get this legislation passed for more than 10 years. The words have come to carry a negative connotation in Missouri and across the nation. Missouri is one of just a few states that still use “mental retardation” in state business.

It is time to implement this simple change to respond to the requests of the people served by the Division, their families and supporters.

Shelly Shetley
Chair, Missouri Planning Council
for Developmental Disabilities
Kansas City

Handicapped parking spaces

The Americans With Disabilities Act specifies the amount of handicap parking spaces necessary for each parking lot. It also specifies that one in eight be marked “van accessible” — 8 feet wide with an access aisle 8 feet wide allowing a van to operate a wheelchair lift.

The one thing it does not address is that the access aisle should be on the right side of the van. Wheelchair lifts normally are located on the right side of the vehicle for safety reasons.

I think that when new parking lots are constructed or older ones redone, that someone should make it a point to read the regulations on the construction of these lots.

Ron McKinney
Overland Park

Social Security backlog

We read with grave concern The Star’s article (3/23, Moneywise, “Entitled and exhausted”) on the severe disability case backlog now plaguing the Social Security Administration.

Fifteen thousand Kansans are awaiting court hearings to determine their eligibility for disability benefits. Many of those 15,000 have suffered severe injuries or illnesses. Many are enduring a terminal disease or debilitating pain. At this time, when they are most vulnerable, they cannot afford bureaucratic delays.

In Kansas, the average Social Security disability appeal has stretched to 21 months — the longest delay in the nation. It is intolerable that anyone must wait nearly two years before receiving the benefits they deserve.

Today’s backlog crisis has many roots. Two decades ago, SSA employed more than 80,000 staffers to process benefit applications. Now, that number has fallen to 60,000, even as the rate of applications has risen sharply.

For six years, SSA has submitted its annual funding request only to the president — not to Congress, as it is legally authorized to do.

As members of the House, we have sponsored legislation to require SSA to submit its funding request directly to Congress each year. Once the legislative branch finally knows how much funding is required to eliminate the backlogs, Congress can at last respond with the resources necessary.

Kansans deserve nothing less.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore
Lenexa
U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda
Topeka

The Star’s editorial (3/25, Opinion, “Vulnerable people deserve better from the government”), establishes a very good argument about the deficiencies of the Social Security system managed by our federal government.

How would a national health-care system be any better than the botched Social Security fiasco that you so elegantly expose?

Be careful what you ask for. Big Government simply can’t, by its very nature, offer the efficiencies of a market-driven, competitive service.

Scott Krieger
Lathrop, Mo.

Social Security claims

It is sad when Social Security claimants need to hire a claims-specialty firm to receive their benefits (3/23, Moneywise, “Entitled and Exhausted; Application Process Drains Time, Money of Stressed Families”).

Nearly 50 years ago I was working for Social Security in the Disability Claims Unit. One case came across my desk 11 times. Letters were written by the claimant’s children, minister, neighbor, councilman, etc. pleading his case. Each time a letter arrived, the case was pulled from the system and returned to me. I would mark the letter NAN (no action necessary) and send the file on. The next week there would be another letter.

I was so bothered by the plight of the claimant that I told my supervisor I had found his phone number in the file and was going to call and tell him to stop the letter writing, because it was only delaying his claim. My supervisor said that if I did this, she would report me and I would be fired.

At the time, I was a single mother with a child to raise. I needed my job.

Esther Kreek
Overland Park

Special-needs students

Special-needs children are such a wonderful gift. I am a senior in high school and have the opportunity to work with special-needs children on a daily basis. I feel strongly about their involvement in school and whether they feel accepted by peers.
Some of the students in the high school who have been diagnosed with a disability get the chance to experience a glimpse of a typical high school day.
I understand that some obstacles come into play when putting children with a disability in a regular high school class, such as concern that the students will disturb the class or be in an environment they are not capable of learning in.
If special-needs children are capable of being in an environment with mainstream classmates, then it should be allowed. This gives these students a chance to feel like all the others.
Katelyn Hansen
Liberty

Developmentally disabled

Kansas Legislature: We need your help!

I would like to thank reporters Jim Sullinger and David Klepper for their article on the 2008 Kansas legislative session (1/14, A-1, “Budget worries shadow Kansas Capitol”). As a Kansan, I understand that prioritizing needs statewide presents an extraordinary challenge for lawmakers. As a Kansan who is also case manager for people with developmental disabilities, I know that people with developmental disabilities must have the funding allocated now to live their lives.

Harrietta Harris’ story is one example representing over 3,000 individuals across the state who are currently waiting for much-needed services. Without the funding, people with disabilities are left without a voice, without options and left out of our communities. I know that I live in a state that values all of its citizens. Please value each and every Kansan and provide funding to the developmentally disabled waiting list. Let’s work together to get everyone the life they deserve.

Laura Robeson
Prairie Village

Van sold for scrap

Regarding the stolen wheelchair-accessible van sold for scrap, then crushed (1/11, Local, “Thieves steal more than a vehicle”), although no law requires scrap yards to contact police prior to crushing a car, there are laws against receiving stolen property.

If I were the crusher and I was shown no title to the vehicle, I would have at least suspected it was stolen.

Police and prosecutors appear to have thrown up their hands as if nothing can be done to stop this or unscrupulous scrap dealers from purchasing new copper wiring, aluminum guard rails, etc.

The purchasers, as well as law enforcement, know these items are stolen but apparently neither cares about the consequences so long as they make a buck or don’t have to do the paperwork.

If the scrap dealers were prosecuted, fined and imprisoned for these actions, they might alter their behavior. As with the drug and illegal alien problems, unless the demand is removed, the problem will remain.

Steven Christensen
Overland Park

Smelly perfume

Several months ago, I quit attending church services. I became embarrassed and intimidated, too often changing seats trying to get away from permeating perfumes that gag.

For people with respiratory problems like mine, there are some churches that offer a reserved section and others, spoken or printed, that ask the congregation to go light in using perfume. It could help if those churches that advertise in The Star include “provisions for attendees with perfume allergies.”

Thank you, God, for listening to my prayer.

D. Callahan
Overland Park

Handicapped parking

In “The Watchdog” (12/28, Local), Walter W. complains about “able-bodied young drivers” parking in handicapped-parking stalls with a tag, “which most likely is not assigned to them.” The Watchdog reporter echoes similar sentiments: “A perfectly healthy-looking driver parks…”
I am possibly one of the drivers described above. I am a 57-year-old driver with a nearly invisible disability, especially on the days I’m lucky enough to walk without my cane. I also have friends who use their spouse’s handicapped parking tag when driving their partner or picking them up.
The focus should be drivers without a tag who use handicapped-parking stalls. I have called the police once for such a driver. The responding policeman talked to the perpetrator in a very authoritative manner then asked me if I wanted to file a complaint. I declined, as I was convinced the guilty party was truly sorry and would not be committing said violation again.
Jim Babcock
Kansas City

Disabled and elderly

Congress needs to wake up and raise the standard of living for the disabled and elderly who receive Social Security disability and SSI benefits. We need to be able to pay our monthly bills and still have money left to support our favorite charities and local churches. The White House should back this with some solid action for change.

David Gates
Kansas City

‘Person first’ language

I’m surprised to see The Star miss on commonly accepted “person first” language in the article on “disabled hunters” over the weekend (11/18, Sports Daily, “Disabled deer hunters get their shot; Model program by Corps of Engineers at Smithville Lake provides a special opportunity”).
How ’bout “hunters with disabilities”?
Ron Miller
Lee’s Summit

Bridge a problem for some

The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial: Overwhelming! An icon for the Kansas City area to treasure, preserve and support. It should be a "must see" for every high school student in the area.

With a group of six, we toured the museum recently. Well, five of us did. One lady, a senior citizen, has a phobia that will not permit her to cross the glass-floored bridge over Flanders Field. So she killed time for three hours while five of us toured the displays.

We wish to commend staff for their patience and help in trying to assist this lady to get across the bridge, coming up with a variety of suggestions to help her navigate the perhaps 30-foot walkway. Her entrance fee was refunded quickly.

It appears if you can't navigate the bridge, you don't see the museum.

Not only is the museum's revenue reduced, a sizable group of Kansas Citians are being denied access to this fabulous memorial.

More than 125 phobias exist. The museum will be unable to adjust and cope with all of them. But a design flaw that prevents participation by a fair number of Kansas Citians warrants changes.

Paul Kannenberg
Overland Park

Editor's note: Museum officials say that patrons should ask for special assistance in these instances. In rare cases, they have allowed entrance through fire exits.

Some need assistance

I am a person with cognitive disabilities. I have tried to become gainfully employed since I was 16 years old. Now I am 45, and I have been unsuccessful. I am an example of a community member who truly needs the assistance of Social Security.

I feel that people not cheating or defrauding the system should be able to have above the national poverty level in cash resources and receive benefits. Plus we should have national coverage in health care for a better, healthier life. Save Social Security for those of us who need it.

David Gates
Kansas City

Audio-Reader Network

Audio-Reader Network, the radio reading service for the blind and visually impaired in Kansas and Missouri, would like the citizens of Kansas City to know how grateful we are to The Kansas City Star for donating a newspaper subscription to be read on air to people who are no longer able to read for themselves.

Every morning, from 8 to 10 a.m., Monday through Sunday, Audio-Reader broadcasts “The Breakfast Table Times.” which features selections from The Star. We also read the paper every day using our telephone reader program with human, not synthesized voices.

We read to people who suffer from macular degeneration, vision complications because of stroke or diabetes, and other eye ailments. The donation means that people with sight issues remain in touch with their community.

We would also like to extend our gratitude to KCUR 89.3 for carrying our broadcast signal. Visit our Website, http://reader.ku.edu, or call toll free at 1-800-772-8898.

Peggy Sampson
Outreach coordinator, Audio-Reader Network, University of Kansas
Lawrence

Disability appeals

I see that the Social Security Administration is making people appealing for Social Security disability wait for up to three years to get the benefits that they need to help sustain them (8/5 editorial, “Appeals on benefits show unacceptable backlog”).

To me it seems inhumane that the so-called “compassionate conservative” Republican president can let that happen.

He can hire mercenaries to fight an unjust war that he started, but he can’t hire enough people to keep these Americans from suffering.

There is something very wrong, folks. Aren’t our elected officials supposed to represent all the people and not just the rich who help them get elected?

If the government needs the money, all it has to do is stop making the rich richer and the poor poorer. How about just stopping the corporate welfare programs and subsidizing farm corporations to grow corn for ethanol?

Jesse Wilkerson
Gardner

Parking spot abuse

After reading Olga Deckman’s letter (7/28, “Handicapped parking”), I had to respond.

I get very upset when I see someone without a tag park in a handicap parking place. I am not handicapped, nor are my four children or 13 grandchildren. And they know how I feel.

Those parking spots are there for Olga and many others. Please leave those spots for those in need.

Joan Fowler
Gladstone

Handicapped parking

My name is Olga. I am 13 years old. I go to Leawood Middle School, and I’m in seventh grade.

OK. So it sounds like I am normal teenager. I go to school, live in Leawood and have a family. But no, I’m definitely not normal.

I am disabled, with one arm and two fingers. That’s not all. I also have legs that are not fully developed. So that makes me look very short, like a “dwarf.”

What I am trying to say is, I love to go out and do things in the world. There is just one problem: handicapped parking.

Whoever thought that handicapped parking was “handy” was wrong. Sometimes it’s the worst part of our fun activities. The only reason handicapped parking is such a pain is that people who aren’t handicapped take the spots.

You know what really bugs me? When people take the handicapped spot right in front of our car and our eyes.

I am asking nicely: Please stop and think about what you’re doing. Not only for me but for other handicapped kids.

I will fight to make handicapped parking handy again.

Olga Deckman
Leawood

Breaking through silence

I live in a world of silence.
It is so very lonely here.
The only sound that comes to me
Is the buzzing in my ear.
So be patient when you speak,
As I may not hear all you say.
I didn’t just lose my hearing,
It slowly passed away.
Today I live in a different world
Because a revelation happened here
When a tiny precious hearing aid
Brought new life to my ear.

Ellen L. Lee
Lee’s Summit

Rewarding relationships

The story about Lois Mayes (4/19, A-1, “She knew Johnny could read; And Lois Mayes proved it 45 years ago as the KC school district’s first special education teacher”), was uplifting in light of the week’s tragedy.

Blessed with many rewarding experiences as administrative assistant with United Cerebral Palsy 40 years ago, I can relate to Lois.

While not presuming to compare to her, I do understand the gift and privilege of associating with and calling these unique individuals (and their parents) “riends. I soon learned the opportunities afforded me to be limitless. This uniqueness was a tremendous learning experience and blessing of deep and meaningful relationships for me.

Two years ago at a local multicultural event, I noticed a gentleman in a wheelchair on the opposite side of the room He is also named Johnny. He recognized me and greeted me with “Mother McCoy.” This gift of his personal uniqueness I can live on for a very long time.

Jacqueline McCoy Tyler
Kansas City

Series on troubled children

Praise and thanks for the excellent series of articles on the work of Spofford Home by reporter Eric Adler and photojournalist Tammy Ljungblad (12/17 to 12/20, A-1).

As a Spofford volunteer, I know firsthand of the fine services that are being offered to hurting children and families.

I feel gratitude to the families who allowed the public to know their personal stories. Many have been reached because of their willingness to let us see their needs.

Because I am a longtime volunteer and a committee chairwoman at Spofford, I can tell you there are many meaningful ways to help the children there. I encourage you to call and become involved.

Rev. Carole Mehl
Kansas City

Kudos to The Star for the series on children and mental illness.

The mention of neurofeedback as an effective alternative to pharmaceutical intervention was appropriate. Neurofeedback can permanently reduce the effects of many emotional and mental conditions.

However, the benefits of neurofeedback occur through reinforcement of healthy brain waves, not through a conscious attempt to change them. If these children could focus, concentrate and sequence properly, they would not be in need of our services.

Susan J. Brandt
Mary S. Stephenson
Kansas City Neurofeedback

Costly airport parking

A warning to handicapped air travelers: Having not parked at KCI for about a year, I was unaware of “improvements” made at the KCI terminal parking lot. These improvements are not mentioned on any sign that I saw entering the parking lot.

I parked at Terminal A parking lot near tower 1, as I have for several years, and took my handicapped wife to Phoenix for Thanksgiving. I was gone a couple of weeks. I was expecting the usual $5 per day handicapped parking fee, about $75. The parking attendant informed me they no longer honored the handicapped parking permit. My parking cost was $258 — an increase of about 360 percent. What a nice surprise!

I am sure there are many other handicapped people who are likely planning to park the “old way” during this Christmas season. This will be quite a windfall for KCI parking.

If you’re going to be gone for more than three or four days, it is likely cheaper to take a taxi.

They got to me this time, but it won’t happen again. Handicapped people have enough troubles without this hassle.

W.K. Hulse
Lee’s Summit

Voter ID law

Missouri’s almost 900,000 voters with a disability (source: American Association of People with Disabilities) are threatened by the new voter photo ID requirement signed into law by Gov. Matt Blunt.

The law requires all voters to have government-issued photo ID cards. What does that mean for a blind person, or someone paralyzed, like my son? Those who cannot see, or whose limbs are frozen by paralysis, may not have a driver’s license.

No one should be cheated of their right to vote merely because he or she does not have a government-issued photo ID card.

Don C. Reed
Fremont, Calif.

Missouri nursing homes

Why is the state of Missouri having so much trouble with nursing homes?

After reading Monday’s paper (9/25 editorial, “State needs to require more staff, better inspections in nursing homes”), my blood runs cold.

Money is not the trouble, we are told. I know from experience that staffing is: not enough help or training.

Do these people that have the lives of so many in their hands not know that in a few years it will be their time to see and feel the neglect?

Anyone who looks forward to the “golden years” will be disappointed. Your calendar that was once filled with social dates will be filled with appointments for doctors and frustrations. As you look a few more years down the road, it will be the “sights and sounds” of a nursing home.

Dorothy J. McLaughlin
Kansas City

Any abuse unacceptable

Several parents of children living at the Kansas Neurological Institute wrote letters defending the institute (9/27). I can understand the concern that documented cases of abuse and neglect might result in its closure. Shutting down the institute would only make a bad situation worse.

However, blaming abuse on underfunding only excuses the abusers. Do we excuse child abuse if the parents are under financial stress?

The parents who wrote are happy with the care that their own children are receiving, and I’m glad for that, but compassionate care of a hundred disabled persons does not erase the abuse and neglect of even one.

The Star was right to highlight the problems at the institute and not dilute the seriousness of the facts by “balancing” the story with good news about other residents being well-treated.

Dave Eland
Lenexa

Learn from Kentucky

We must reserve our best treatment for those least able to care for themselves: the elderly and the developmentally disabled. Treating well the institutionalized elderly and developmentally disabled is moral and fiscally responsible. Kansas could learn from a Kentucky disaster (9/21 editorial, “Improved care for the disabled should be a priority in Kansas”).

Somerset, Ky., is home to Oakwood, a facility for developmentally disabled adults. Oakwood is a mess. Fifteen former employees await trail for crimes against patients. The facility has averaged more than one class A (most serious) citation a month for two years. Patients have died needlessly. As a result, Medicare/Medicaid payments are in jeopardy; they supply $40 million (nearly three-fourths) per year of Oakwood’s budget.

If Kansas institutions don’t reform, they will injure and kill patients and risk losing Medicare/Medicaid payments. Institutions operate well when they have adequate pay, provide adequate training, have effective management and are accountable. Maintaining well-run institutions is both moral and fiscally responsible.

Daniel W. Phillips III
Assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice
Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia, Ky.

NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE

Care costs money

Regarding the editorial “Improved care for the disabled should be a priority in Kansas” (9/21): I couldn’t agree more that the key to providing quality services to persons with developmental disabilities is “compassionate, well-trained staff.” In order for this to happen, however, we must be willing to pay these staff members a decent, living wage. There is a staffing crisis in this field right now that can only be solved by continuing to increase the funding to serve these individuals in the community so that staff can be adequately compensated.

Peggy Regan
Kansas City

Facility good for many

I read with interest the article (9/17, A-1, “State survey details injuries and neglect”) and editorial (9/21) about Kansas Neurological Institute. I agree these facilities need to be checked to see that residents are taken care of properly. I also think we need to be fair about it.

My daughter has been a resident at KNI since 1970. You should visit her unit. You will not find a more caring staff than those who work there. I’m lucky. My daughter has no behavior problems. But they have two on that unit with serious behavior problems, and they are treated with kindness and respect.

I do not think KNI or the Parsons facility should be closed. Everyone should be concerned about waiting lists for these facilities and services. As I understand it, neither place is accepting new residents.

Ann Brown
Kansas City, Kan.

Regarding your Sept. 21 editorial on Kansas Neurological Institute, we find it lacking in positive statements about the staff. Our son Bobby has been a resident of KNI since April of 1973, and we have found the staff caring, compassionate and professional.

When we visit our son’s unit, he is always well cared for, and he is clean and properly dressed. We have seen the staff preparing the meals and serving the clients, and we are very happy with them and their attitude.

Our son is not able to live safely in any other environment.

We realize that no establishment will be perfect, but why didn’t you report a more balanced story?

Norma and Bob Lippold
Leawood

Handicapped parking

Too many people are parking in handicap spots or using them to wait for passengers inside stores. Because of this, often those with disabilities are forced to park in the far corners of parking lots (hoping no one parks next to them) to use their lifts and/or get into their wheelchairs. Then they have to maneuver through the parking lot (basically at the height of a child) and hope no one backs over them. This poses both safety and accessibility concerns.

I am the mother of a child who has cerebral palsy. Her muscles are extremely tight, and she cannot sit in a shopping cart, walk, crawl, roll over, hold on, etc. She’s like carrying a log, except she’s often pushing away from me. Trying to get her into and out of her car seat is a challenge, but possible when we can open our car door all the way. Trying to navigate her wheelchair and a shopping cart through a parking lot is challenging at best. Because of this, we have a handicap placard to use when she is with us.

Are we really so pinched for time that we will jeopardize the lives of or intensify the inconvenience of those with disabilities?

Debbie Niemann
Kansas City

A wonderful surprise

I recently took my disabled brother and his wife to the doctor. She and I were attempting to get him into the wheelchair when we heard, “May I help?” He did help, and when thanked, responded, “I do it all the time.”

We had just discussed our need to get a Hoyer Lift. I asked him if he happened to know where we could buy a used one. He said, “Come with me.”

We were early for our appointment. So we went with him to “The Whole Person,” a center for independent living with which the man was affiliated. My first thought: “What are we getting into?”

A disabled gentleman on a motorized cart came out, and we explained what we were looking for. I immediately felt, “This man understands our problem.” His name was Barney Mayse.

He explained he was at a business recently that had gotten in a new lift and would check on it.

Two days later, the needed lift was delivered to my brother’s house. There was no charge.

I’m overwhelmed by this. What were the odds of our arriving in front of that building just as James Riley was coming out? This lift is truly a godsend!

Louise Hughes
Kansas City

Help for disabled

The Missouri Constitution requires the legislature to meet each September to reconsider bills vetoed by the governor. This year, however, Gov. Matt Blunt didn’t veto a single bill, although he used his line-item veto to trim a few minor spending items.

Since we must be in Jefferson City for the Sept. 13 veto session anyway, we could use the opportunity to reinstate the Medical Assistance for the Working Disabled program. Its elimination in 2005 forced many disabled workers to choose between having a job and having health care. Those who supported eliminating the program, including the governor, now realize it was a mistake.

Although the legislature would pass the bill if a special session were called for that purpose, Gov. Blunt refuses to do so unless House Republican leaders commit to passing a law to crack down on Medicaid provider fraud, something they have balked at doing.

House Democrats stand prepared to support both bills, but linking these unrelated issues is what killed the medical assistance program in the waning days of the regular legislative session. Both matters deserve special session consideration, but resistance to one shouldn’t preclude action on the other.

Disabled Missourians want to return to work and are relying on us to clear the way.

Paul LeVota
Assistant minority leader
Missouri General Assembly
Independence