Heineman: Not Leading... Again
Mar 08, 02:36 PM CST
The Beatrice State Development Center is in trouble.
The Center currently benefits from $28.6 million in federal grants but, after failing to comply with federal standards in September 2006, it stands to lose that money used to help Nebraskans with developmental disabilities. What is Heineman’s HHS Department doing about it?
Apparently not enough:
Though most institutions are given six months to comply with federal care standards or risk losing federal funds, King said, federal officials had given the Beatrice center 18 months – since September 2006 – to comply.
Still, the center had failed to meet four of eight federal standards by Friday’s deadline for meeting all the standards.
But don’t worry, Governor Heineman is on the case:
Gov. Dave Heineman has been kept informed about the situation but is leaving the matter to HHS officials to handle, said his spokeswoman, Jen Rae Hein. (emphasis added)
I’m glad that the Governor is taking such a hands-on approach.
The state stands to lose $28.6 million. Where will that come from? For a “fiscal conservative,” Governor Heineman sure seems willing to let that vital money slip away. I also wonder when the Governor is going to realize that the buck stops with him, although I suppose that would require him to stand up and take responsibility for his administration’s actions.
I have no doubt that the employees at the Center are working as hard as they can –– in fact, they’re being forced to work overtime –– but it’s clear that the leadership they’re getting just isn’t cutting it.
In the Heineman adminsitration, that’s not surprising.
– by Eric Van Horn | Send this to a friend
