Whacking Moles: HHSC Holds Public Hearing on LAR

The Health and Human Services Commission will submit its Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) to the Legislative Budget Board on August 23, 2010. HHSC must plan for $568.7 million in cuts for the 2012-2013 biennium.

HHSC held a hearing on August 6, 2010 to explain the cuts and to accept public testimony. You can read about the proposed budget cuts here.

Community mental health centers, state mental health hospitals, health and dental services for children with special needs, substance abuse treatment services and programs to treat the uninsured, as well as other services that rely on general funding, are facing the largest cuts.

Commissioner Tom Suehs warned, though, of the unintended consequences of cutting services. Health and Human Services are particularly vulnerable to the "whack a mole" effect, he said, where a cut in costs for one program results in an unexpected spike in other areas.

Bee Moorhead testified at the hearing. She said that these types of cuts-- those that affect the most disadvantaged and "least among us"-- are an example of what Texas has always done in the face of budget shortfalls. "Why don't we instead cut the funding for the Meat Safety Assurance Unit?" she asked. "Then all Texans, not just Texans who are already struggling, will feel the effects of the cuts."

There is still time to submit your input to the Health and Human Services Commission. Click here for more information about getting involved in the budget process.