LETTER: Budget standoff is discouraging

The budget standoff in Harrisburg is discouraging for many reasons. Passing a budget is one of the basic functions of government.

The political posturing around this inability of our lawmakers to do their job ignores what happens when there is no budget: vital functions don’t get funded, including programs that are critical to senior citizens. Programs that provide home-delivered meals, home health services, adult day care, and even investigations of potential abuse and neglect of older adults may suffer. During the 2015-2016 budget crisis, senior agencies had to borrow money, downsize or cancel programs. AARP and other advocates for older adults encourage the legislature to find a way to finalize the state budget at once, before services upon which seniors depend are sacrificed on the altar of political gamesmanship.

PAM ZERBA

York City