Well, that is not--I am sorry. That is not what Ms. Ashby just told me.

It is also, of course, about accountability. And ultimately, and most importantly, it is about putting the safety and the health and well-being of thousands of children first, above all else.

We have made the welfare and safety of these children our top priority.

These kinds of reports make us all sick. And the CFSA needs to understand we are not going anywhere, none of us are going anywhere.

This is about, we know, resource needs. This is about proper management of those resources and the services provided.

Well, I mean, if it is in your hard file.

You need to be on dual tracks, you need to be worried about 2004, but you also need to be worried with OMB about 2005.

I'm for you, it has to get done. If it doesn't get done now, it will have to get done later.

This looks like a big chunk in one year. Why is that?

If the system is getting in the way of that or if the caseworker cannot use the system or if the caseworker is working around the system, we have a problem.

That's why today's hearing will focus on ways that this subcommittee can target resources towards new initiatives.

Okay. So instantly we know that we have a problem, right? I know I'm repeating what has been said, but to me this is a real problem.

Okay. We do have a problem or we don't have a problem.

Yes. Well, it makes it a lot easier for us if we do not have to have all the money in 1 year, I can tell you that.

All I was saying, and it is a minor point, all I am saying is, the initiation to release a child to be eligible for adoption is a different thing from the filing of the adoption procedure.

Why did you not file it?

And let me just say, as a former prosecutor and also someone who, as lieutenant governor of the State of Ohio, one of my responsibilities was to oversee our prison system, that the special population worries me more than the other…

How many more months and years can we ask these children and teens to wait until they have a safe and loving home?