MA Senior Citizens Protest Proposed Cuts to Elder Nutrition Program

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.