A State Budget Forum For Real People With Real Stories

They're called consumers or clients by human services agencies. But that's not how Lehigh County resident Susan Johnson, a participant of the SHAPE program, would put it. "We're real people with real stories," she insisted. At least 200 people just like her were crammed into Northampton Community College's Fowler Center, ready to tell their stories to state lawmakers considering a proposed budget that will slash an unprecedented 20% ($168 million) from county human services programs.

But only four of the Lehigh Valley's 12-member legislative delegation were there to hear these stories. State Senator Lisa Boscola, along with State Representatives Joe Brennan, Bob Freeman and Steve Samuelson, were the only legislators present.

CACLV's Alan Jennings, who facilitated the discussion, pointed to an empty table in the front of the room, and then began calling out the names of state lawmakers who were absent. State Senators Bob Mensch and Pat Browne did send representatives, as did State Representative Justin Simmons. But the remaining members of the Lehigh Valley delegation - Gary Day, Joe Emrick, Marcia Hahn, Julie Harhart and Jennifer Mann - were absent, and failed to send anyone to act as their eyes and ears.

Gary Day and Joe Emrick never responded to inquiries about their absence. Hahn, Harhart and Mann explained they had scheduling conflicts and were unable to send staffers because of sickness and budget cuts within their own offices. Harhart apologized for her absence, stating she has been meeting "one on one with a lot of individuals regarding Corbett's budget cuts in health and human services, along with cuts in education and early childhood, conservation, and many other budget issues."

They missed an opportunity to hear from real people with real stories.

People like Allentown's Lisa Sportelli, who spoke of her special needs teenaged son Ean and who lacks the resources to provide him all the help that is out there. "The guilt I and so many others in my shoes feel is unexplainable," she remarked. If the services he does receive are suspended or reduced, he will regress, she claimed. "I can't imagine a system that would want to rob a child of a future by denying necessary services now," she argued.

George Clark suffered from depression after losing his fiance to Hurricane Katrina. With help, he was finally getting better and was three weeks into a new job when he was involved in a car accident. He now has $300,000 in medical bills. But for the Conference of Churches and Daybreak, Clark said he'd be on the "wayside."

Eva Cupeles, a one-time business owner who has mental health issues, credits Daybreak with helping her remain functional.

"They make cuts to us, but they're building a hockey stadium," she complained. Cupeles was referring to a planned hockey stadium in Allentown, which will be financed with state and local tax revenue.

After everyone had spoken, State Rep. Joe Brennan observed that county governments will be forced to cut 1/5 of their local programs. "They're gonna' be the bad guys because we have a Governor who refuses to prioritize," Brennan declared. He also predicted that many of the people who could be helped by human service programs will end up in the correctional system.

State Rep. Bob Freeman called Corbett's proposed budget "a failure," imploring people to reach out to absent legislators. Echoing Freeman, State Rep. Steve Samuelson called the budget cuts "devastating to the Lehigh Valley.

But the lawmaker most affected by these real stories from real people was State Senator Lisa Boscola. She claimed she had come "to learn." And she did. "I don't even know if i would have been as strong as some of you," marveled the feisty state senator. She described her own experience as a caregiver to her quadriplegic brother, who has passed away, explaining that sometimes, all he wanted was someone to scratch his head.

Then she broke down in tears.

Ellen Kern, Chief of Staff for Republican Majority Whip Pat Browne, was able to dig out a few tissues for Democrat Boscola, demonstrating that real people - no matter what their political affiliation - will listen to and help each other.