Barricade appears in front of Perry's office after disabled Texans' sit-in

[Posted by alaurie_97@yahoo.com]

Barricade appears in front of Perry's office after disabled Texans'
sit-in
Robert T. Garrett/Reporter
rtga...@dallasnews.com | Bio

4:49 PM on Wed., Mar. 2, 2011 | Permalink



Early Wednesday, a movable barricade appeared in front of Gov. Rick
Perry's office on the Capitol's second floor. In the same public space
late Tuesday, dozens of wheelchair-bound Texans protesting budget cuts
to social services staged a five-hour sit-in. Eleven were cited for
trespassing and escorted by DPS to the door after the building closed
at 10 p.m., as we reported very late on Tuesday.

Perry spokesman Mark Miner said Wednesday evening that the wheelchairs
blocked people from visiting the governor's office late Tuesday.

"This group has every right to be in the Capitol and express their
opinion like every other Texan," Miner said. "However, blocking doors
and access to the governor's office is not going to accomplish
anything."

The disability-rights group Adapt of Texas, which organized the sit-
in, says GOP leaders' introduced budgets would reduce significantly
how many hours a week of service they get from personal attendants.
The so-called home and community based services allow them to stay in
their homes, avoiding more costly nursing-home stays that are an
entitlement under the state-federal Medicaid program.