Don’t Wreck Texas Rally – April 1, 2011

On April 1, 2011, the Texas House of Representatives began voting on House Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal year 2012-2013. The bill proposed deep cuts across the board for social services including pre-K programs, Medicaid-funded nursing homes, community-based services for people with disabilities, and education.

In response, advocates for social services rallied at the south steps of the Capitol. Beginning at 12:00pm and ending at 7:45pm that night, the rally was a test of endurance in the 90 degree Austin heat. A “funeral” for the various social service programs at 1:00pm included cardboard coffins and eulogies.

This awkward and eery procession was followed by a speak-out on cuts to Health and Human Services. One speaker, Suzanne Hammer, related that she had adopted her son from foster care. Because of this, treatments for his severe bipolar disorder are covered by Medicaid. Like other Medicaid recipients, Suzanne’s child’s future is up in the air under HB 1. Texas can either pay now or pay later. Untreated, children with severe mental illnesses may end up homeless, hospitalized, or in jail.

Like Suzanne, Stefan spoke from the point of view of a parent with a disabled child. His son, like 2% of boys or 1 out of every 110 children nationwide, has a diagnosis on the Autism spectrum. HB 1 proposes a complete elimination of all programs for children with Autism. As a single parent, Stefan made it clear that this would force him to choose between working and caring for his son. If all families with a child with Autism must make a similar choice, it stands to reason that there will be an influx of children into the CPS system, due to caregiver exhaustion or inability to provide required care.

A third speaker, Suzie, touched on a subject I am actively involved in – Community Based Alternative services (a Medicaid waiver program) for persons with disabilities. I am a Relocation Specialist at ARCIL, Inc. (arcil.com) under this program. I assist those who have become trapped in nursing homes to be able to regain the freedoms of independent living. Suzie said she didn’t want to be in a nursing home. Listening to her last few words, I felt a lump forming in my throat: “If they make me go in there, I will die. I’ll give up.” It’s a sentiment I see in the eyes and hear in the words of my consumers every day.

As the coffins blew away in the wind for the fifth time, I noted one passerby commenting, “Coffins? What’s so grim?” Perhaps the rally had finally got to me, but I felt like shouting at her as she walked away. What’s so grim? Maybe that Texas is quickly becoming a place where no one wants to have children or grow old, whose citizens fear the day they fall ill. HB 1 isn’t just cutting services – it’s cutting lives.

 

But there are alternatives. An elderly man in a blue collared shirt and a cowboy hat made sure we knew this. He proposed an increased in the 3% rate of state and local taxes paid by the wealthiest Texans to 8%, still shy of the 8.4% to 12.2% he claimed that 60% of Texans with lower incomes pay. This one change, he stated, would balance the budget.

So why are our representatives choosing to cut services rather than add revenues? At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, they’re all in it together – the politicians, the corporations, big money. Who’s left out? You, me, Suzie, Stefan’s son, and everyone else.

Jennifer Copeland

MSSW Candidate

University of Texas at Austin

4/1/2011