A few years ago, during a light moment, Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville, described lawmakers as "not exactly profiles in courage." The description seems especially apt in these dark days, as Medicaid recipients are tossed out of nursing homes and are denied other forms of care as well.
   If lawmakers had had courage, they could have prevented it; they could have passed a budget that funded the safety-net programs for the sick, elderly and poor. But they didn't
   As Julie Denton, chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, later explained, "The general feeling is that people out there don't want new taxes."
   That has been the mantra for a while now. It started with Senate Republicans, but was quickly adopted by Democrats, too.
   The wimpy and callous thinking in Frankfort went like this: The public wasn't ready for tax increases, but maybe they would be after seeing a little pain.
   Already the pain has become so apparent that Sen. Denton herself is advocating at least one form of tax increase. "This is a good opportunity for the cigarette tax," she said on Wednesday, at a meeting where some real fear and suffering were on display.
   Sen. Denton has been one of the major culprits behind the pain Medicaid recipients and their families are going through. As head of the committee expected to lead on health issues, she made the "no new taxes" mantra her priority instead.
   The result couldn't possibly be a surprise. After all, she's not blind, and the Governor, his health secretary and health advocates were clear in their warnings of the heartbreaking choices ahead.
   But Sen. Denton isn't the only culprit. The whole Kentucky legislature must share the blame.
   Rep. Harry Moberly, chairman of the House budget committee, warned House members, "There is great pain in this budget." Sen. Charlie Borders waved off the dire predictions, saying. "We are concerned. On the other hand, we do have a budget" to pass.
   Yes, but it was a budget he and other lawmakers had the power - and responsibility - to change. And they probably will change it, now that the public is seeing the even worse choices ahead.
   After all, while it's true tax-payers aren't clamoring for more taxes, they don't like to see old people being tossed out into the street, either.
   Too bad Kentucky's "leaders" didn't have the courage to act before so much suffering occurred.