More Legislative Support for CIL Funding Restoration

Legislators Question Why CILs are Targeted for Cuts

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 2, 2007 – The effort to prevent a 20 percent funding cut for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in Pennsylvania received more bipartisan legislative support Wednesday.  In separate hearings, the Senate and House Appropriations Committees questioned why the Rendell administrations is recommending a $450,000 cut for a program it acknowledges is a valuable investment. 

Governor Rendell’s 2007-08 budget proposal recommends a 20 percent cut for the nine state-funded CILs.  This is the third straight year the administration has proposed a funding cut.  In the two previous years the Legislature rejected the Governor’s recommendation and provided level funding at $2.25 million in the final budget.  The CILs are requesting level funding this year.

During the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing with Budget Secretary Michael Masch, Sen. John Rafferty, (R-44) asked why the administration is proposing a funding cut to successful programs, specifically CILs.    

Masch said the administration used the common practice of reducing or eliminating funding for programs that are priorities for the Legislature.  He said the administration should not assume the Legislature’s priorities each year, therefore cuts are proposed to certain programs with the option of restoring the funding during the final budget negotiations.

Several senators questioned the logic of that budgeting philosophy.

House Appropriations Committee

One day after several Senate Appropriations Committee members expressed strong support for restoration of CIL funding to Labor & Industry Secretary Stephen M. Schmerin, the issue received similar attention from the House Appropriations Committee.  Again, legislators questioned why the administration would propose cutting a program that L&I supports.

“Once again, Governor Rendell has cut funding for CILs.” said Rep. Katie True, (R-41).  She asked why the Administration would propose a $50,000 cut for each of the nine state-funded CILs.

Schmerin said he “tremendously supports” CILs and fought hard to prevent a cut during negotiations with the Governor’s budget office.  He said that difficult decisions had to be made, but he hopes the Legislature restores the funding.  Schmerin made similar comments to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday.

True told Schmerin the budget process is political, but the administration’s tactic of repeatedly recommending funding cuts for successful programs, such as CILs, is “reprehensible.”

Rep. Mario Scavello ((R-176) also criticized the Governor’s budget strategy.  “It is obvious that everyone wants to see the Centers funded properly,” he said. “I hope this is the last time we have to talk about this.”

Rep. Scott Petri, (R-178) told Schmerin that CILs provide a valuable service to Pennsylvania.  “I have a tremendous amount of support for CILs,” he said.

Reps. Gordon Denlinger, (R-99) and John Siptroth, (D-189) also expressed support for restoration of CIL funding.

Bargaining Chip

Several advocates for Centers for Independent Living from around the state attended the budget hearings this week to urge the committees to reject the Governor’s proposed funding cut.

“Forcing a 20 percent cut on the already tight budgets of these nine state-funded CILs will have damaging consequences,” said Corey L. Rowley, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council.  “CILs do an excellent job of assisting people with disabilities to enter the workforce and become taxpaying citizens.  A $450,000 cut will not only reduce this ability, but will force some CILs to layoff staff, of which the majority have disabilities. 

“Sec. Masch’s comments to the Senate Appropriations Committee are further evidence the administration is using CIL funding as a bargaining chip for the upcoming budget negotiations with the Legislature.  Programs that provide services for people with disabilities should not be used for political poker.

“The CILs, and those they serve, are extremely thankful to the members of the Senate and House Appropriation Committees who expressed support for restoration of CIL funding.  We will continue to encourage the Legislature to remove the cut as it negotiates with the Rendell administration.

“We look forward to a time when funding cuts are not an annual distraction and CILs can focus entirely on the mission of providing services to people with disabilities.

Centers for Independent Living are non-profit, non-residential organizations that provide a variety of services to more than 10,000 people with disabilities annually by assisting them to become more independent.  Of the 18 CILs in Pennsylvania, 9 are state-funded. Despite the rapid growth in those served by CILs there remains many Pennsylvanians who are unable to access Independent Living.

Examples of CIL services include:

ABOUT PA SILC

The Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (PA SILC) is a nonprofit, cross-disability, consumer-controlled organization dedicated to securing public policies that ensure civil rights for people with disabilities by supporting the independent living philosophy. 

The PA SILC was established in 1987 to comply with the federal "Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986" (P.L.99-506), which requires states to create a consumer-controlled advisory committee to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation's Independent Living Program.  In 1992, the federal Rehabilitation Act Amendments gave SILC co-signing authority on the federally-mandated State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).

In compliance with state and federal law, a majority of the voting PA SILC members are persons with disabilities and are appointed by the Governor.  Additional representatives are from Centers for Independent Living, consumer or independent living organizations, and various state agencies.