So many questions -
Too few anwers

I'll be first to admit I don't understand (but am always learning) how government works.

So I don't understand the cuts recommended last week by the House Health & Human Services Appropriations Committee nor the process by which those figures were reached. Judging from Tuesday's committee meeting, I'm not alone.

While cochair Rep. Verla Insko (D-Orange) spoke of the myriad of complications faced by the committee in making its budget recommendations, it was clear that many committee members, including Insko, weren't quite sure on exactly what needs and services the final figures were based - final figures that had changed since the committee's vote last week, changes that irritated some committee members.

The committee is scheduled to meet again Thursday after the House's general session to approve or reject those revisions.

In her opening remarks, Insko said the budget process had not "always been clear. It's not always clear to us (the committee) frankly." Later, she suggested the state's fiscal division work with the Department of Health and Human Services to "lay out these packages of money so that we can understand it. And it's clear that I still don't understand it all."

Nor does the mental health community or public in general. And while you could say it's not necessarily legislators to blame, it's the process, only the legislators can change that process.

And then there's the big question: Why weren't these big questions answered before the budget recommendation was approved? And if unanswered, why would the revisions be approved Thursday?

Note: Unfortunately, the rest of this column has been erased.