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Oklahoma
State Senate For Immediate Release: May 20, 2010 Senior Meal Funding To Continue; Budget deal means life to some of Oklahoma's most vulnerable citizens A budget agreement reached today between legislative Democrats, the Governor and the Republican controlled state legislature will provide at least $5 million next year to continue the state's vital senior nutrition program state wide, Sen. Kenneth Corn said Thursday. “Inclusion of the money for the senior nutrition program that I and other Senate Democrats fought so hard for all session long literally means life to thousands of Oklahoma's senior citizens,” Corn, D-Poteau, said. “It was a difficult, difficult fight to get funding. This is a major victory for senior citizens across Oklahoma.” Corn and Sen. Tom Ivester, D-Elk City, began the crusade to save the senior meals programs by camping out on the Capitol steps in protest after state Department of Human Services directors slashed the program drastically and unexpectedly last fall. The budget cuts led to more than 100 senior citizen meal program sites closing and scores of others reducing the number of meals they served. In all, more than 800,000 meals were in jeopardy of not being served. The food fight drew support from seniors, families, non-profit organizations and dozens of newspaper editorials, all of which demanded the meal program be funded again this year. Corn kept the heat on during the early portion of the legislative session, at one point being joined by the Senate Democrat Caucus to block revisions to last fiscal year's budget that were required because of the state's budget collapse over the last 18 months. Republicans and the Governor were forced to publicly pledge to continue the program in the 2011 fiscal year budget because of Senate Democrats’ efforts. “This fight was always about doing what was right,” Corn said. “I never understood how some people thought it was okay to deny thousands of senior citizens the only hot meal most of them get each day. The budget is not perfect, this part of the agreement is not perfect – but I can put my head down on my pillow tonight and I know that our seniors are going to be fed,” he said. For more information, contact:
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