Advocates for the mentally ill have been pleading with a subcommittee of the House not to go through with the more than $50-Million in cuts to the Department of Mental Health being proposed by Governor Matt Blunt. Some grow emotional during testimony before lawmakers, such as Terry Mackie, the parent of a developmental disabled son, who contends the mental health cuts to Medicaid don’t make sense, because they provide a disincentive to work. Others remind lawmakers that many cuts made on the state level deprive the state of matching federal funds, costing the state more than they save. The committee is hearing testimony and plans to speak with officials of the Mental Health Department before making recommendations to the full Budget Committee.