Senior citizens staged a protest at the Massachusetts Statehouse Thursday over a proposed budget cut for the elder nutrition program. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports…
The elderly activists rallied to urge legislators to reject Governor Deval Patrick’s proposed $1.5 million cut to the senior meals program. The governor’s proposal would mean the number of meals served to seniors next year would be slashed by 25%, or 240,000 meals.
Mass Senior Action Council President John Bennett said it would be a huge impact on people who count on low cost lunches at local senior centers and the homebound who have meals delivered to them...
“The effects on their health will be, I think, disastrous.”
The protestors delivered to House Speaker Robert DeLeo’s office thousands of postcards attached to paper plates, with the message: “Don’t leave our plates empty.” The House version of the state budget will be released in late April.
Paul Tuthill, WAMC News.