By AP
Nashville, TN – Commissioner Doug Varney of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health has likened pending budget cuts to amputating fingers. At a budget hearing yesterday with Republican Governor Bill Haslam, Varney laid out $15 million in potential spending cuts at the state's public mental health and alcohol and drug abuse authority, including $11 million for programs paid for in the current year with state savings and federal stimulus money. Varney also called for a comprehensive approach to minimize the loss of services. Varney says the state may have to decide to cut a finger off here or there, but at least the hands will still work.