University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Associated Students of the University of Montana Montana Kaimin, 1898-present (ASUM) 2-24-1994 Montana Kaimin, February 24, 1994 Associated Students of the University of Montana Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper Recommended Citation Associated Students of the University of Montana, "Montana Kaimin, February 24, 1994" (1994). Montana Kaimin, 1898-present. 8668. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper/8668 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Montana Kaimin, 1898-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MONTANA KAIMIN Volume 96, Issue 101 University of Montana Thursday, February 24, 1994 Disabled citizens fear Medicaid cuts Tomoko Otake $200 every month out of his pocket, most of which comes Kaimin Reporter from Social Security payments, From the large window of his until he reaches the minimum room facing the Clark Fork income level of $425. Then a River, Greg DeShaw has Medicaid check kicks in. enjoyed watching the beautiful In its special session last scenery change its color for December, the state Legislature nearly two years. approved a set of cuts on “There are a bunch of squir­ Medicaid to overcome the bud­ rels chasing each other,” get crunch after a petition drive DeShaw said, pointing out the led by UM law Professor Rob wintry trees along the river. “It’s Natelson stopped a state income really nice.” tax increase, said Michael DeShaw lives in Eagle Watch Regnier, the president for the Estates at 565 Burton Street in Coalition of Montanans Missoula, a 24-unit apartment Concerned with Disabilities in building for mobility-impaired Missoula. The Medicaid cuts people. But now he lives with a will give the state $7.5 million, fear that someday — and he he said. doesn’t know when exactly — he The cuts will eliminate state will be kicked out of the build­ funding for the“Medically ing and forced to go back to a Needy Program” in areas such as inpatient and outpatient hos­ nursing home, away from the scenery and the freedom of inde­ pital care, medical equipment, supply and personal care atten­ pendent living. GREG DESHAW, a resident of Eagle Watch Estates, faces eviction because of state Medicaid ^Meck DeShaw is one of2,000 peo­ dant services. About 120 people cuts. ,m,n ple in Montana to be affected by in Montana will be unable to ing. He’s been to some nursing homes,” DeShaw said. “If they Dan Bisbee, 32, is also afraid of the state Medicaid funding cuts. afford living in places like Eagle homes since but never liked stick you into a nursing home, it. “Without this program, I Those people are categorized as Watch, which provides wheel­ any. “The quality of care is terri­ they will take away dignify. don’t know what I’m going to “Medically Needy Program” chair-accessible housing and ble in nursing homes,” he said. They will take away self- do,” he said. recipients, because they earn personal care attendants There was no freedom to go out respect, choice.” The cuts will also include slightly more than the poverty around the dock. Most will have for a walk or for shopping, and Five of the residents at Eagle elimination of all adult dental income level that makes people no other choice than going to a he often waited an hour after Watch are on the “Medically services except extractions for eligible for Medicaid. They have nursing home, Regnier said. calling for help because nursing Needy Program,” and will be all Medicaid recipients. That to spend down their own money DeShaw, the 43-year-old for­ homes were always short of peo­ forced to leave because they will affect 80,000 to 90,000 peo­ to qualify for Medicaid. In mer electrician, broke his neck ple, he said. can’t afford to pay for personal ple, Regnier said. DeSbaw’s case, he spends about in July 1975 when he was div- “They want us in nursing care attendants themselves. See “Medicaid” page 12 Kerrigan fans protest premature broadcast Heidi Williams “It’s just like ruined our et on private property, and Kaimin Reporter Olympics,” he said. “You forced them to leave the cov­ can’t understand how upset ered entryway of the station Chanting “Hey Hey, Ho we are. The Olympic moment and move out into the street. Ho, Dave Tester’s gotta go,” is gone.” The protesters initially eight loyal Olympic fans Apparently, the news brief refused to stop until they had picketed the KPAX TV sta­ appeared around 8:30 p.m., received a personal apology tion Wednesday night, during the actual Olympic from Tester, but their enthu­ protesting an accidental pre­ broadcast, and reported the siasm began to fizzle when mature broadcast of the results before Kerrigan had two more cop cars arrived on Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya skated. Currently, Kerrigan the scene. Harding results. is in first place in the figure Police officer Gary Casey, . Police curbed the protest skating competition and who broke up the protest after nearly a half an hour of he Olympic moment along with six other officers, the picketing. The protesters said he did not mind the carried signs with slogans Tis gone. ” protest as long as the pro­ such as “Why Dave Why?, —UM student and protester testers kept themselves “The horror, The horror,” and Dave Schazlea under control. “Our champ Nancy was no “These guys are fine, but I surprise,” and demanded an Tonya Harding is in tenth have a bunch of fires and immediate apology from place. power lines out and stuff KPAX sports broadcaster Tester did apologize dur­ tonight causing me grief,” he Dave Tester. ing the 10 p.m. news, while said. “They’re just going to UM student and protester the picket was going on. piss and moan at Dave for a David Schazlea said he and Tester is in his final week while.” his friends had purposely at KPAX before taking a job Before Casey left, he asked shielded themselves from in Boise, Idaho. the protesters, “So, is prior information about the Police told the protesters Kerrigan really in first skating results. they weren’t allowed to pick­ place?” Page 5 Page 6 Page 10 Black History Month: The Roxy: Town’s cheapest Intramural Play: UM's Speakers describe prison life theatre burned down, but its Camel Time dominates the from both sides of the bars. spirit lingers in the ashes. APAX’S Dave Tester, not Dave Letterman, preempted Rcbecca Hunting intramural hoops. Adam Keats’ Olympic viewing by announcing Nancy Kail' Kerrfyazi s triumph before CBS finished the event. Keats protested c the station but Officer Chris Odlin told him to leave the property. Kaimin is a Salish word that means “messages?’ "^ThisPay in Black History Feb. 24, 1842: James Forten, Sr., dies in Philadelphia, Pa. A sailmaker who amassed a for­ tune, Forten was one of the most influential aboli­ expressions tionists of the first half of the 19th century and chairman of the first Negro Convention. Don’t let Black History Month slip by unnoticed Studies Program is in limbo. EDITORIAL-------- Is February Black History Month? These are just a few of the many hundreds of African-Americans who Therefore, it is extremely important This is the question I have been that we, as Americans, educate the Early retirement asking myself all month. I thought I dared to make a difference. Their struggle was long and difficult. The community regarding the fine contri­ was just imagining it. But if it was butions of the African-American. UM just my imagination, why am I being least we can do as Americans is to costs university did a wonderful job acknowledging asked to talk at various schools and acknowledge and educate the general January as the month to celebrate money, character organizations regarding black history? population regarding the accomplish­ Martin Luther King’s accomplish­ Rattlesnake Elementary School, ments made by African-Americans. UM will lose 28 professors to the ments. But what about February, isn’t Franklin School, Paxson School, the Some of us may ask the question, state’s great personnel purge known that Black History Month? March is African-American Strategy Group at “Where do I get the information?” How as Early Retirement, including devoted to women. I challenge this the Forest Sendee, and the Trapper Maxine Van de Wetering who guided campus to come up with contributions Creek Job Corps have all asked me to the last nine of UM’s Rhodes made by African-American women. do presentations regarding black his­ Scholars to academic prestige at Remember January, February and tory. Oxford University in England. She Guest Last year I recall the Black Student March are the only months that pay won’t be back, and she’ll be missed. Union putting up an eight-foot-high, Column homage to African-Americans. Don’t But we won’t be bidding all 27 of double-sided, two-part panel acknowl­ let another month slip by unnoticed. fellow professors adieu for good, and by Betty edging the accomplishments of Just like the commercial, “Wow I the state’s early retirement program Africans and African-Americans. I Gregory should have had a V-8,” I look in the leaves UM little money to replace Kaimin and there it is.