Thursday, 05 24, 2012

Senator Sam McCann says he is working toward full funding for the Jacksonville Developmental Center (JDC) in the Fiscal Year 2013 budget, but a budget plan presented May 23 by Senate Democrats did not provide that.

Senator McCann voted against Senate Bill 2404 because it contained only $17.8 million for JDC for next year, compared to an approximate allocation of $31.2 million for the facility this year.

“Neither the Governor’s office nor the Department of Human Services has put together a budget with facility-by-facility numbers. The Senate Democrat plan that we were given last night, less than an hour before we were to vote on it, listed $17.8 million for JDC – that’s only a half-year’s funding and that is not acceptable,” Senator McCann said. “I would like to take people at their word, but I am working to achieve – in writing, on paper – a full-year line item of funding for JDC. For anyone to suggest otherwise is just wrong. It is political gamesmanship at its worst.”

The 49th District Senator said during debate of Senate Bill 2404, even the sponsors admitted it was just a political roll call and they were simply playing a game of “beat the House.”

“This is a situation where the Senate Democrats are trying to put the cart before the horse. It’s akin to a family paying for bills before knowing what’s in their bank account. How can you vote on a budget that is predicated on $2.7 billion in cuts (Medicaid) and taxes (cigarette tax) before legislation is passed to make the cuts, and pass the tax,” Senator McCann said. “This budget plan has no chance of becoming law. I wasn’t sent here to play games, but to work on real solutions. I am not going to engage in phony antics that won’t accomplish