More News

This story was corrected on Nov. 10, 2009. An explanation is at the end of the story.

They came in wheelchairs, carried signs and pleaded with state legislators not to cut the funding that pays for the services they need.

More than 300 people filled The Arc of Frederick County headquarters Wednesday night, angry over $30 million worth of budget cuts in August to services that help people who have disabilities and their families.

With the Maryland Board of Public Works considering another round of cuts this month, they came to say no more.

"I've lost hope and I've lost faith in the system," said Margie Allen, president of The Arc of Frederick County, an agency that helps people who have developmental disabilities. "This is neither a Democratic problem nor a Republican problem. It's a human problem. What are we really fighting for? It's not money, it's our lives."

In August, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) announced and the Board of Public Works approved $454 million in budget cuts to help the state's lingering financial woes. Of that, there were $30 million in cuts from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration's budget of $768.3 million.

This includes cuts to family support services, adult respite care, group homes and financial assistance. The cuts could mean less money for in-home care, special diets, diapers for teens and a host of other expenses families face when caring for an adult or child with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or other developmental disabilities.

"I worry one day we'll have to decide what to pay, the electric bill or medicine for our daughter," Michelle Brewster of Thurmont told the audience and state legislators. "I feel the government needs to spend some time with our families to see what we go through."

Brewster's 4-year-old daughter Karson has a chromosomal disorder, and cannot walk, talk or crawl. She is on a waiting list to receive services and help from the Developmental Disabilities Administration.

Brewster said she had to quit her job to take care of Karson, and the family struggles on just her husband's salary. Last year, they had out-of-pocket medical bills exceeding $13,000, Brewster said.

There are 19,016 families on the state administration's waiting list. Of that, 681 are from Frederick County.

Listening to their stories were three members of the Frederick delegation to the Maryland General Assembly: Del. Paul S. Stull (R-Dist. 4A) of Walkersville, Del. Richard B. Weldon Jr. (Unaffiliated-Dist. 3B) of Brunswick, and Del. Joseph R. Bartlett (R-Dist. 4A) of Middletown.

"I'm absolutely blown away by what I've seen tonight," Bartlett said. "And this is the type of energy we need when we go back to Annapolis and lobby for you. And we will walk the walk and take that walk with you when we head back in January."

But some residents became angry when Weldon suggested they lobby O'Malley since the Maryland Constitution only allows the governor, not the General Assembly, to add funding to the state budget. The General Assembly only has the authority to cut money from the budget.

They shouted out, "Why did we elect you?" "Stop bailing out the banks," and "Cut your pay."

Weldon remained calm as he explained the role of the state legislature. "The Maryland governor is the most powerful governor in the 50 states," Weldon said. "According to the Maryland Constitution, we can't add a penny to the budget."

Catherine Raggio, secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities, said she would take residents' concerns back to the governor.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly spelled Karson Brewster's first name.

E-mail Sherry Greenfield at sgreenfield@gazette.net.