I sympathize with those who are impacted by the government shutdown. It is causing inconvenience and pain for many Minnesotans, and we do need to reach a budget agreement. But we need to reach an agreement that is wise, humane and responsible.

If we adopted the Health and Human Services budget that the state Legislature passed in May, for example, some people employed as personal care staff for our citizens with disabilities would see their wages cut by 20 percent. Almost 3,000 people with disabilities would lose all their personal care staff who make daily life possible for them. Aging caregivers who still have an adult child with disabilities at home could be forced to place their son or daughter in a nursing home, should they suddenly no longer be able to care for him/her.

Any final budget agreement must minimize the cuts to the services that make life in the community possible for those who need our support, including our citizens with disabilities, and that help keep families together. To do that, we must look at new sources of revenue. I urge our state senators and representatives, including Rep. Rich Murray, to look beyond the current budget impasse towards a path to a humane and responsible solution.

Kevin Kvenvold

Albert Lea