HARRISBURG, Nov. 29, 2012 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today praised Gov. Corbett’s recently expressed commitment to cutting the long waiting list of intellectually disabled adults who need community-based services.

Tartaglione was reacting to remarks made during the governor’s visit to Vision for Equality, in Philadelphia, as reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“I’m encouraged that we might be seeing a change in direction for the administration which had previously targeted programs for vulnerable Pennsylvanians during budget cutting,” Tartaglione said. “We would welcome the governor to join us in the effort to create opportunity for every Pennsylvanian who is willing to work despite the challenges they face.”

Thousands of intellectually disabled adults have been idled on Pennsylvania’s waiting list for services that provide work training, personal care and therapy after they pass the age of 21.

During his visit yesterday, Corbett expressed the goal of finding the money to “eradicate the waiting list,” according to the Inquirer.

“Over the past two years, vulnerable Pennsylvanians have borne the burden of severe budget cuts and curtailment of services,” Tartaglione said. “My colleagues and I have offered a few good suggestions on how we can realign priorities to fund these services, but we’ve gotten no support from the administration.  It looks like that might change.”