A coalition of Iowa religious leaders today spoke out against the cuts republican lawmakers propose in the Department of Human Services. United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer pled with lawmakers to not cut the programs.The G-O-P budget plan cuts more than 200 jobs from the welfare agency, and Palmer says that’ll drastically cut services to poor and abused Iowa children. Palmer has some advice for the Governor and legislative leaders, who’ll meet tomorrow to discuss budgeting issues. He says they should get in a room and not come out until they find a way to solve the issue that meets the needs of Iowans and poor children.Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa spokeswoman Judie Hoffman fears lawmakers will focus solely on education spending during next week’s special session. She says for children to learn at school, they have to have their basic needs met. Gary Gansemer, executive director of Hillcrest Family Services in Dubuque, worries that troubled kids will be kicked out of treatment centers like his. He says they’re the kids that have the most intensive needs.Bishop Palmer says when legislators meet next week in “special session,” they should ask themselves “what would Jesus do?”
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