Governor Corbett in Trouble After Disability "Keep Your Promise" Rally in The Capitol

May 3, 2012 - PRLog -- Hundreds of people with intellectual disabilities and their families and friends were holding up signs “Don’t Cut Our Lifeline” and” “Some Cuts Never Heal” while chanting “Keep Your Promise”, reminding the Governor that he made a campaign pledge to them as well as a pledge not to increase taxes.
“He has no problems keeping his promise not to tax multimillion dollar companies, but he can’t keep the promise he made to these vulnerable people who trusted him”, said Maureen Devaney, co-executive of Vision for Equality.
This was a bi-partisan event; legislators from both sides of the isle were present and spoke up against the cuts to an already exposed system. 16,000 people with disabilities are on a waiting list to receive services; many of them have been waiting for several years.
“This budget proposal does not do one blessed thing for the waiting list," Rep. Tom Murt (R) said. "How does a civilized society justify building a new soccer stadium in Chester or giving free postage to prison inmates yet tell folks with intellectual disabilities, sorry we can’t help you this year?”
"Is it more important to treat people with intellectual disabilities or is it more important to retain our status as the only state in the nation that doesn't tax smokeless tobacco? Which is more important?"Sen. Daylin Leach (D) said.
Instead of focusing his budget on community based services the Governor has chosen to increase the budget for the very costly institutions.
“You are willing to spend $250,000 a year, a quarter of a million dollars to send somebody to an institution and not serve one poor person in the community. Shame on you,” said Audrey Coccia, co-director of Vision for EQuality. “Do the right thing. Stop playing with people’s lives. Keep your promises to people with disabilities by properly funding crucial services for people with intellectual disabilities and autism,” said Coccia.
This was a powerful and large crowed  and they made sure The Governor could hear them.
As DiGirolamo (R) and Murt (R) slipped away toward the end of the rally, DiGirolamo was overheard saying, “If we weren’t in trouble before, we are now.”