Realizing that the governor may hold firm on his no-tax-increase pledge and an override likely won't happen, legislators are going back over their human-services bill to see what else they might cut from an already filleted agenda.

The HHS conference committee meets again today to hear testimony about how bad things might be if further cuts are needed.

The omnibus bill, which already cuts health and human services by $500 million, was passed 80-51 by the House and 47-18 by the Senate and awaits a likely veto message from the governor.

A new proposal -- to cut $400 million more -- is being floated in the committee. Some of its purpose is to show people, and the governor, how things could look without some kind of new revenue. On Tuesday, Margaret Perryman, chief executive officer for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, said she didn’t know how the hospital would "shave off" an additional 25 percent cut, reports the House Public Information Services. "Children with disabilities will continue to depend on us."

And Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter said the cuts would "devastate our ability to care for those" in social services.

Hospitals, nursing homes and disability organizations already are discouraged by the cuts made in the current version of the bill.

Pat Mellenthin, executive director of The Arc of Minnesota, called the passed bill -- even before these further proposals -- a huge disappointment for people with disabilities and their families. 

"Throughout this session, we have heard legislators promise they would protect persons with developmental and other disabilities and their families from harm in this budget process," Mellenthin said. "The governor’s proposal for human services is even harsher towards persons with disabilities, with even deeper cuts than the conference committee bill."