Forum canceled; protesters of health-care cut show up

A planned public forum on higher education turned into a protest against state health-care cuts after a group of demonstrators unexpectedly showed up Tuesday evening at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Jackson.

State Sen. Jason Crowell and state Reps. Nathan Cooper, Scott Lipke and Billy Wright were scheduled to speak Tuesday on the legislature's impact on higher education in a forum sponsored by the University of Missouri Extension Council and the University of Missouri Alumni Association. However, a group called Show-Me ADAPT, or American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today, came to discuss cuts to Medicaid, specifically to the Centers for Independent Living program. Extension Center officials ended up calling off the forum, but some spoke with legislators briefly outside the building.

"We did talk a little," said Roger Eakins, a registered livestock specialist with the extension service. "We had to go outside and talk, so we didn't get to ask things to the extent of some of the questions we had written down."

Legislators sought

Kim Sternamenn, attorney for Show-Me ADAPT, said the group has tried unsuccessfully to contact some state legislators, so they decided to approach them at Tuesday's forum, even though it was not intended to be about health-care issues.

"We have requested this respectfully on several occasions and have been ignored," Sternamenn said. "We wanted to make the legislators understand that we're serious about the fact that people are dying, being forced to quit their jobs or be institutionalized because of the changes to Medicaid, and we're not going to let this happen by just sitting back."

Sternamenn, who is from Crystal City, Mo., said members of Show-Me ADAPT are from all over the state, but most of them are from within 100 miles of Southeast Missouri. She said many members came specifically to talk to Crowell, who they said made comments about the independent living program and their organization.

Cooper said he is always willing to meet with constituents, but that he had never been contacted by Show-Me ADAPT before Tuesday. He said the cuts to Medicaid programs were necessary.

"The reforms we did were common-sense reforms that provided a safety net for those individuals that cannot help themselves," Cooper said.

wmcferron@semissourian.com

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