Iowa’s treatment of vulnerable is telling

'The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members” - Gandhi

If this statement is true, then Iowa surely would be judged very poorly in its treatment of the aging and disability communities. Last year, the legislature allocated $8.7 million in funding to reduce the Medicare waiver waiting list. Unfortunately, Gov. Terry Branstad vetoed that funding.

We are told that he and his staff misunderstood what the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion would do. There are more than 7,000 Iowans on the waiting list for waiver services (this is funding for services in the community about one-third the cost of facilities and institutions), many of these individuals have been waiting for years for an opening. Recently, Rep. Dave Heaton, R-Mount Pleasant, managed to get $4.8 million allocated, which, sadly, is not nearly enough.

The Heritage Agency on Aging's nutrition program in East Central Iowa will cut 73,000 meals despite ongoing fundraising efforts. These meals are critical and help frail seniors stay out of a nursing home.

As Iowans, we should be embarrassed and outraged that at a time when the state coffers are full, tax breaks are going to large corporations, while the most vulnerable of our residents are in danger of losing their independence.

Contact the Governor's Office and legislators and tell them this is not the way Iowans treat other Iowans.

Terry Cunningham

Iowa City