After more than two hours of debate, a joint appropriations committee recommended among its top spending priorities: $2.5 million to expand the state's mental hospital; $3 million for local mental health providers; and a 2.5 percent pay hike for employees who contract with cities and counties to offer services for the elderly, substance abusers and the mentally ill.

But the spending item that drew an audible sigh of relief from low-income advocates at the hearing was $8.9 million to restore dental and vision benefits that the state yanked from Medicaid recipients during the 2002-2003 recession.

The victory may be a hollow one, though, considering the limited amount of money that Republican leaders have said they are willing to spend over last year's $480.5 million Human Services and $1.6 billion Health budgets.

Legislative budget chairmen told Human Services to expect at most $70 million in new money.

"The greatness of a government is how we take care of our poor and disabled and we don't do a very good job," lamented West Jordan Republican Sen. Chris Buttars.

Rep. Steve Mascaro, sponsor of the Medicaid proposals, said failing to beef up reimbursement rates will force dentists to refuse to treat the state's most vulnerable.

"It would be no different than giving someone a brand-new set of tires and not filling them with air," said the West Jordan Republican, stressing that the state funds would be matched by $18.8 million in federal dollars.