Tulsa World: Seniors protest at Capitol

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Saturday, November 21, 2009 | WIRELESS

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Seniors protest at Capitol
Meal sites in the Tulsa area have closed

Peggy Hartman sits with her assistance dog, Evielena, on Wednesday at the state Capitol, where protesters expressed anger over cuts to nutrition programs. STEVE GOOCH/The Oklahoman

By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Published: 11/5/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 11/5/2009 3:24 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY — Hundreds of older Oklahomans carrying empty paper plates filled the second floor of the Capitol on Wednesday to protest cuts to senior nutrition programs.

Among the protesters, Peggy Hartman sat in a wheelchair with an assistance dog at her side and a sign in her lap reading, "Will work for food."

The demonstrators wanted to know why the Department of Human Services has cut $7.4 million from the nutrition programs, which provide congregate and home-delivered meals.

State agencies have been cutting their budgets as a result of declining revenue.

Tulsa Area Agency on Aging Director Clark Miller said three nutrition sites in the Tulsa area have closed: Prairie Village in Owasso, Country Club Gardens in Tulsa and Red Bud Village in Glenpool.

In addition, home-delivered meals will be reduced by about 50 percent, or 110,000 a year, he said. Eight people have been laid off, and nine employees have had their hours reduced, Miller said.

The crowd at the Capitol booed when they learned that Gov. Brad Henry would not attend the rally.

Secretary of State Susan Savage, who spoke on his behalf, said the governor had a previous commitment. She said Henry is committed to finding a solution to the meals issue.

Marjorie Lyons of Broken Arrow, president of the Oklahoma chapter of the AARP, said Wednesday was a sad and shameful day for Oklahoma.

"Oklahoma's greatest generation is now fighting hunger," she said.

About 400

people attended the rally. Many yelled questions at speakers and voiced their displeasure with how the cuts were handled.

Rebekah Williams of Sulphur called the cuts a moral issue.

She held up a picture of her 82-year-old father, who died two years ago. She said he was able to live at home an additional three years because of the senior nutrition program.

"There are so many out there just like him," Williams said as tears streamed down her cheeks.

House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, is set to meet with older residents next week. He issued a statement after the rally, which he did not attend.

"There are a number of tough decisions ahead, and we are monitoring the budget situation and the cuts that are required to balance our budget closely to determine the impact on all Oklahomans, especially our most vulnerable," Benge said. "The first quarter of state collections this fiscal year came in 30 percent below expectations, and reduced revenues of that magnitude require that difficult decisions be made in all areas of government. We stand ready to make those tough decisions."

Speakers told the crowd that a deal had been reached to solve the nutrition program problem by tapping the state's "rainy day" fund to restore the money to the Department of Human Services.

Henry's spokesman, Paul Sund, said no agreements have been reached but that options have been discussed.

Meanwhile, Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, criticized the Department of Human Services for giving raises totaling $196,560 a year to top staff members before the cuts were announced.

The raises, given about a year ago, were part of a five-year plan to get DHS wages in line with those for similar jobs in other agencies, DHS Director Howard Hendrick said.

Tulsa, Creek counties delivery cut in half

Ronda Lynn, director of the Tulsa and Creek Counties Senior Nutrition Program, said her agency has had to cut its homebound meal deliveries in half because of the budget crunch.

The agency, which served 1,112 home delivery meals a day, had to change its delivery schedule to three meals per participant one week and two meals the following week.

“It’s been a large cut for us,” Lynn said. “Basically we’re serving five meals in a two-week period.

She added that the cut will amount to about 97,000 meals through the rest of the year.

The agency also serves hot meals weekdays at 12 sites in Tulsa County and six in Creek County. Lynn said three Tulsa County sites have closed and personnel have been removed from the Drumright location.

Joy Emanuel, 68, has been receiving five frozen meals a week through the agency.

She started receiving them in January because two knee replacements and a hip replacement limited her mobility.

“It’s hard for me to walk and get around and cook,” she said.

“It’s really wonderful to have those meals coming. I’m really grateful for them.

With the cuts, “I’ll manage, but it’s going to be harder,” Emanuel said.

Barbara Hoberock (405) 528-2465
barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Older Oklahomans protest cuts to senior nutrition programs," which was published on 11/4/2009.

	Report Comment oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (11/5/2009 5:42:01 AM) Whats the matter Seniors, this is Change you Voted for, you can believe in it now, Obama promised a Chicken in every Pot. Trillions of dollars have been spent,to stimulate the economy,to bad none of it got to you.Lets all hold hands now, and say Yes we can.And this is just the beginning .
	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (11/5/2009 11:02:33 AM) I'm not agreeing with the cuts to Meals on Wheels and other agencies that look after our elderly (poor and elderly). But Slatz, you state that your parents do Meals on Wheels. Why aren't YOU helping taking care of YOUR parents by giving them some money for groceries or cooking meals and taking to them? Heaven forbid that people would start taking care of their own children and helping with their own parents. No, they prefer to sit back and have the government take care of them.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (11/5/2009 2:43:07 PM) Maracucho. A very good post. Both of my parents age gone so I do as much as I can to see that the really needy gets fed. They do get very lonely and sad especially around the holiday.
	Report Comment my view, Sand Springs (11/5/2009 8:53:50 AM) Taxes was lower when the Oklahoma Senate was controlled by the Democrats, Governor Henry signed the bill into law. He could have veto it and the House and Senate would have overriden his veto. DHS was told to cut their budget by 7%, they in turn cut food programs to seniors by 42%. That was done because it would get the most press and uprising from the 20% of Oklahomans who call themselves liberal. It could have be spread around a little more but that wouln't accomplish desired effect. Governor Henry should have attended the rally and told the senior what the DHS was doing and why.
	Report Comment my view, Sand Springs (11/5/2009 9:49:49 AM) Slatz, Just a question how close do you live from your folks? Are able to take them some meals and visit with them? I'm not condeming you, some just live to far away to help. Others find themselves with hectic lives raising kids and everything that comes with it.
	Report Comment osupokie, Tulsa (11/5/2009 6:48:43 AM) Was this protest for government assistance going on at the same time the tea party was outside protesting its "socialistic" attempts to control our lives? Do we want government assistance or do we want them to stay out? which is it? I am so confused right now.
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/4/2009 11:27:49 PM) There are several ways you could have expressed your comment without resorting to a continuous harangue of caustic language. This seems to be a constant theme with all your comments.
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/5/2009 12:01:36 AM) This is just the beginning of the cuts that are going to be necessary in the future. It's really is a shame that our prison system chews up 600million dollars each year alone. Just a waste.
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/5/2009 6:19:32 PM) This is an embarrassment for the state at all levels. Everyone is responsible for this. Mainly the legislature as they hold the keys to the purse. But the Governor too should be shouting from the rafters to force the legislature to dip in the rainy day fund and get this program funded again.
	Report Comment 18thandBoston, Tulsa (11/5/2009 1:21:09 PM) I wonder how many of these seniors are opposed low-income Oklahomans receiving food stamps? I wonder how many of these Medicare recipients are opposed to universal health care for people who aren't them and scream about socialism?
	Report Comment ajohnb, Jenks (11/5/2009 1:15:59 PM) Everyone is so bent on balming the Republicans since they are in control of the House. Ok, as long as you blame the democrats for the mess the USA is in right now. What part do you not get that the nation's economy has gone South? Everyone is having to make cuts. I bet most of the people on these boards have been affected by the economy. Maybe if they took YOUR food stamps away and gave them to the Elderly to offset their cuts, you might understand it a bit better.
	Report Comment ajohnb, Jenks (11/5/2009 1:21:28 PM) Well said, Mar!! "Heaven forbid that people would start taking care of their own children and helping with their own parents. No, they prefer to sit back and have the government take care of them." Exactly, Mar!!! Those that are barking the loudest on this thread are probably doing the least to even help their own parents.
	Report Comment Zoltar, Boltar (11/4/2009 11:12:32 PM) Our Governor is a liberal coward to not meet with these Seniors, what a loser! He probably got wind of the angry men seen in the crowd carrying buckets of hot tar and bags of feathers and headed for an undisclosed location!
	Report Comment sr71v3, (11/4/2009 11:34:56 PM) Reliable .. you sound angry. Are we not giving you enough food stamps?
	Report Comment Slatz, Tulsa (11/5/2009 9:42:58 AM) Tax cuts at work. My folks do Meals on Wheels and the stories they tell are just heartbreaking. Most seniors just like to have someone to talk to since they can't get out much. Can't believe they cut this instead of some highway project, etc.
	Report Comment Slatz, Tulsa (11/5/2009 9:44:56 AM) I recommend that all of you do some senior volunteer work to get a better (or different )perspective on the issues they face daily.
	Report Comment Get out of my bidness!, The Republic of the United States of America (11/5/2009 2:57:25 PM) Talk about your astroturfing! These Title III sites are so bound up in regs they are monsters of inefficiency. Who are the people that dragged these old folks to OKC? Laid off nutrition site directors? How many employees of DHS or one of the dozens of regional government grant machines organized this protest "on the clock?"
	Report Comment Eagle 4, Tulsa (11/5/2009 6:27:20 AM) Soon they can gather at the monument and pray for their uncharitable Oklahoma Legislature. And even read, "Honor thy father and thy mother." The Legislature should be checking the menu in Hades. Roast Repub should be popular in a few years.
	Report Comment born okay the 1st time, tulsa (11/4/2009 10:57:55 PM) IM glad to see these seniors taking a stand. Anyone else seeing the huge uprising among citizens? I love it.
	Report Comment Bubba, Bixby (11/5/2009 5:22:53 AM) Take the money from the prisons and feed the elderly! I'm sure there are millions in waste but prison's are a good place to start.
	Report Comment Bubba, Bixby (11/5/2009 8:32:16 AM) "actually, this is a result of ill-advised tax cuts a few years ago. This is page one of republican political strategy....cut taxes and cut government. If you don't like it, vote democrats next time. Otherwise, shut the fk up." Actually, this is a result of millions of tax dollars being mismanged by both parties and all government agencies. There are more than enough tax dollars being collected to serve the needs of our citizens, it's the money thats being whizzed away studying the mating habits of Spotted Tanzian Red Haired Ardvark thats destroying us.
	Report Comment Bubba, Bixby (11/5/2009 12:03:55 PM) Why do liberals blame tax cuts instead of demand efficiency and respobsible spending from our government? You're giving the government permission to continue wasting money. If I managed my money the way the government manages my tax dollars I would be homeless.
	Report Comment aint missbehavin, .. (11/6/2009 11:24:49 PM) Country club gardens,why I cant even afford to eat there?Peggy sweety,if'n your gettin meals from the country club that needs to be addressed,thanks for bring that to our attention.
	Report Comment I'm Reliable, (11/4/2009 11:22:58 PM) I don't agree with these senior protesters, I know a lot of "seniors" who are well off or wealthy. Most seniors have their home paid for. Everybody needs to understand revenues are down and spending cuts must be made and society will have to accept the consequences. The only other alternitive is to raise taxes which the hard hearted Republican Party will not do. So the seniors can just starve!
	Report Comment I'm Reliable, (11/4/2009 11:27:22 PM) Thank you to House Speaker Benge and other Republicans who would rather lower taxes for millionaires and the wealthy than to take care of the needy citizens. Republicans are selfish and cold hearted to the poor and unemployed.

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