Rell to CT: “Help me contend with difficulties. Be virtuous. Raise your minds”

M.:

What makes you think I’m not already being virtuous? Is it all those charges to “IFYOUSEEKAMY.com” on my credit card? Because I can explain at least half of those. Is it because I only shovel one shovel-width of my front sidewalk, and the law says two shovel-widths? So I'm not "shovel-ready?" Because with that one, see, I’ve had this bad back since 1990, so I’m supposed to go easy on the lifting.

Or is it because I didn’t do my “Just One Thing” thing to save energy? If you want to know, I’m planning to set my bedroom air conditioner to “maximum plus” and never to “super maximum plus” this summer, but it’s not summer yet, of course.

And the “raising my mind” thing I can’t do because of that back problem I mentioned priorly . . .

And if it’s not too personal a question to ask, M., can you say (quietly – just between us!) a bit more about these “difficulties” you need help with? Because my wife might be the better person to help you out, depending, you know, M..

What you said about: “We will stand arm in arm, sharing our burdens and turning our challenges into opportunities, positioning ourselves so that we may soar when those harsh winds of economic turmoil finally fade.” Did you write that yourself? Because I got chills. It was kinda like the “Gettysburg Address” meets “I Have A Dream” on a blind date, and they hold hands, so when Katrina hits they don’t fall into the Gulf, and when Katrina is over they get a neat government trailer and live happily ever after.

BTW: What does “comity” mean? Is that, like, an asteroid that does stand-up?

Also, about “doing more with less.” I tried that out this afternoon by making tuna sandwiches for the kids using only half a can of tuna – not the whole can I usually use. But every time I tried it, I kept coming up with only half the sandwiches that the kids usually eat. And boy, were they ever still hungry! So can you tell me the trick? Does it involve Scientology?

More seriously, I felt reassured and comforted and that I would always vote for you when you said you would “protect our people, help those truly in need.” You also have my full support if one of those “approval rating” guys calls. Which is why I wanted to make sure you knew about a bunch of “typos” in your budget. Not big stuff, but I know you want to get the future of Connecticut just right. You really like us!

Here are some of them – let me know if I should look for more:

> Reduce funding to Community Health Centers by $2,035,762.

> Reduce funding to School Based Health Center by $1.4 million.

> Reduce funding to various AIDS service accounts for a total of $477,225, including Services for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS, Needle & Syringe Exchange, Services For persons with AIDS, Children’s Health initiative.

> Eliminate non-emergency dental services for adults.

> Reduce inmate medical services by $5 million.

> Remove funding for the Juvenile Justice Urban Cities Pilot in the amount of $764,000.

> Remove diversionary bed funding of $1.68 million.

> Eliminate The Children’s Trust Fund, with its prevention programs transferred to the Department of Children in. This means eliminating funding for literacy programs ($100,000), legal services for children ($150,000), and Safe Harbor Respite ($190,000).

> Reduce DCF support to individuals age 21 and over.

> Reduce funds for Supportive Housing for Recovering Families by $2 million.

> Close High Meadows – 44 beds – with children being sent to community services or CT Children’s Place.

> Eliminate funds for Safe Harbor Respite ($750,000); Juvenile Justice Group Homes ($1.2 million); uncommitted wrap around services ($2.2 million); SWET program ($711,341).

> Eliminate funding for Non-Core Service Grants – Neighborhood Centers ($261,000), Community Emergency Services ($67,598), Behavioral Health Partnership evaluation ($100,000), Diaper Bank ($150,000), Safe Haven media campaign ($50,000).

> Eliminate Fair Housing funding for cut of $332,500.

> Reduce the number of Elderly Housing Counselors by $150,000.

> Eliminate Medical Interpreters under Medicaid.

> Impose cost sharing/co-pays for individuals receiving Medicaid.

> Remove cost- of-living adjustments for persons on Public Assistance.

> Cut nursing homes by over $160 million in SFY 10 and even greater in SFY11.

Thanks, M.! You just keep on keeping on!