3/4: SC legislators may cut all services for disabled

Times & Democrat: S.C. legislators consider cutting all services to those with disabilities

The nearly 26,000 people in South Carolina with disabilities may soon no longer have access to state services, as legislators struggle over the budget. Parents say the proposed cuts to day care programs and other services would force them to give up much-needed jobs to stay home and care for their young and adult children.

Andrew J. Imparato, chief executive of the American Association of People with Disabilities, said he is hearing horror stories about budget cuts around the country, but South Carolina is the most extreme example. Shutting down everything but federally required residential care is “the most draconian kind of thing I’ve heard,” he said.

Other states have raised taxes to deal with similar problems, but that’s unlikely in South Carolina.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Senate won't allow state vote on e-bingo

ARKANSAS: Thousands of FEMA trailers to head out of state despite legislators' protests

FLORIDA: Another tomato crisis looms for the state, nation

GEORGIA: State's jobless rate is at all-time high of 10.7%

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear wants workers' compensation insurer to cut its rate

LOUISIANA: Pre-K program in the state is safe from budget cuts for now

MISSISSIPPI: Michelle Obama's visit to nation's fattest state (transcript)

NORTH CAROLINA: Think tank releases list of 10 worst stimulus projects in the state

TENNESSEE: State ranked 5th for economic development performance

VIRGINIA: One-gun-a-month law to be considered by Senate

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