This editorial appeared in The San Luis Obispo Tribune.
No doubt about it — the state of California is in a world of hurt. Its inability to sell bonds has put billions of dollars in public works projects in jeopardy. Schools are in such desperate shape that the absurd notion of shaving a month off the academic year has been floated in Sacramento. And Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is throwing around the term "financial Armageddon."
Given the level of crisis, sacrifices are going to have to be made, but we don't believe they should come at the expense of our elderly residents.
For that reason, we urge the restoration of funding for the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program.
Funded by the federal and state government, this program mmonitors nursing homes and residential care facilities that serve our elderly residents — many of whom are without family and friends to speak on their behalf.
To read the complete editorial, visit The San Luis Obispo Tribune.