Katherine Hansen of Boise presented lawmakers with 13,740 petitions signed by Idahoans calling for lawmakers to consider a tax increase rather than cut home and community-based services for people with disabilities. The signers, she said, are "13,740 Idahoans from every county and every city in this great state. ... The people who signed these petitions urge you to approach the current budget crisis in the same way they approach their budget crisis - everything needs to be on the table."

Paul Tierney of Nampa, father of a son with developmental disabilities, broke down as he described how his family has done everything it can to help his son Nicholas, "a great kid," with its own funds and credit cards, not with state aid. But, he said, Nicholas needs developmental disability services, and he'll need them when he turns 18 and becomes an adult. "Please do not support the cuts to these vital services, and consider raising revenues to keep the services Idahoans need," he told lawmakers.