In May, the House of Representatives met to debate the FY’04 budget. While the process has always been an arduous one, this was by far the most difficult one to date that my colleagues and I have had to deal with. We are in a recession and facing a $3 billion deficit. Many programs suffered deep cuts to their budgets. Nonetheless, we in the Legislature, as a whole, did what we could to make sure essential services were not decimated. I am happy to say that protecting services for the Commonwealth’s senior citizens was foremost on everyone’s minds.

Among the programs voted on for restoration was the critical Senior Prescription Drug Program, Prescription Advantage. While Governor Romney targeted this plan for elimination, the House, including myself, voted to preserve this program; it was a victorious vote for seniors. Prescription Advantage offers insurance coverage for prescription drugs to all Massachusetts seniors.

I also voted for an amendment that allows seniors to have an option in receiving home care as opposed to care in a nursing home setting. This amendment requires seniors, who are not Medicaid members, to be screened prior to entering a nursing home. My colleagues and I voted for this measure because it ensure that as many seniors as possible can receive necessary care in the comfort of their home. The House included this beneficial plan for seniors as part of its final 2004 budget.

While we have made every effort to preserve essential services for senior citizens; and I believe the Senate will do the same with their budget deliberations, it will be up to the Legislative Conference Committee to keep these measures intact. I will continue to advocate for seniors throughout this budgetary process by advising the Conference Committee members that these issues are very important to my constituents and myself.