Rally held to promote Medicaid funding

Correction: The Centers for Independent Living that were mentioned in a March 30 article were not closed due to the Medicaid cuts of last year's legislative session. The article chronicled a Disability Rights Rally at the State Capitol.

JEFFERSON CITY — Hundreds of disability rights advocates descended upon the state Capitol on Wednesday to rally support and recognition for the issues facing disabled Missourians.

“Health care is a right, not a privilege,” marchers yelled in unison as they made their trek around the Capitol.

“We’ve got a lot of ground to make up (after) the cuts to Medicaid that were made last year,” said Sen. Pat Dougherty, D-St. Louis, speaking to the applauding crowd. “My job is to help put back the horrible cuts that were foisted on you last year.”

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder spoke at the rally first. He used the opportunity to tout the funding he has secured for independent living centers, despite the fact that many centers were forced to close after last year’s cuts to Medicaid by the Republican-dominated legislature.

Besides the lieutenant governor, leaders from both ends of the political spectrum spoke, including Sen. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, and Rep. Charles Portwood, R-Ballwin.

Republicans chose to highlight current legislative attempts to restore some of the Medicaid funding that was cut.

“We are offering bills in a way that the most eligible will be taken care of,” said Rep. Kathlyn Fares, R-Webster Groves.

Democrats repeatedly roused the crowd with claims of abandonment of the disabled by the majority party.

“What we’ve seen from the leadership party in Missouri is atrocious,” said Rep. Wes Shoemyer, D-Clarence.

Shoemyer said Gov. Matt Blunt has built a $250 million surplus in the state’s budget on the backs of the most vulnerable Missourians.

The rally was the capstone event of the Disability Rights Legislative Day 2006 at the Capitol. Other speakers included Reps. J.C. Kuessner, D-Eminence, and Margaret Donnelly, D-St. Louis, and members of the Missouri Disability Vote Project and Missouri People First.