More Responses from Legislators

The following are responses to constiuents and advocates to follow the multiple year funding plan as developed by DCH adn DHR for 1,500 new MRWP and 152 new ICWP slots for the FY2007 General Budget to Unlock the Waiting Lists for disability supports. Each entry is a response to a separate request, even when listed more than once...some legislators use a similar response for more than one person.

__________________________________________

Feb 5th
"I will do all I can regarding funding."

Rep. Harry Geisinger, House District 48

Jan 30th
"Thank you for contacting my office at the Georgia General Assembly. It is my hope that as your State Representative, I can continue to serve you to the best of my ability.

This legislative session we will address many critical issues. As Legislators, it is important that we handle each issue with respect and care. I thank you for your interest in funding for disabled Georgians. I appreciate you bringing to my attention the budget issues at hand. I will fully support the funding and will advocate for it. Please keep me updated on what I may need to do if the funding is changed or the slots are eliminated. When and if this happens I can take further action.

In the future, if there is anything that I can do to serve you, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My success as a legislator depends on your support and opinion. Thank you for your time and I look forward to making a difference for you, my constituents, and for this great state of Georgia."

Sincerely,
Rep. Melvin Everson, House District 106


Jan 30th
"Thank you for your thoughtful email. I continue to support increasing state funding for these programs and opening up the Katie Bechett waiver as well and more efficiently implementing the existing program. Please keep me posted on your situation."

Senator Judson H. Hill, Senate District 32

Jan 30th
"Thank you for contacting my office at the Georgia General Assembly. It is my hope that as a State Representative, I can continue to serve you to the best of my ability.

This legislative session we will address many critical issues. As Legislators, it is important that we handle each issue with respect and care. I thank you for your interest in unlocking the waiting list. I am in support of this issue, but I must add that I have to take a look at all the budget issues involved before I make my final decision. Please keep me updated on any critical oncerns and I will be glad to take a look at them.

In the future, if there is anything that I can do to serve you, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My success as a legislator depends on your support and opinion. Thank you for your time."

Sincerely,
Rep. Melvin Everson, House District 106

Jan 28th

"Dear advocate: I am continuing to press for more slots in the '07 Budget. Thank you for your email. Yours for a Better Georgia"

Rep. Sue Burmeister, House District 119

Jan 24th

"Thank you for your e-mails. We on the House Appropriations committee are still working on the FY06 Amended budget at this time. I will be talking to Jeff Brown, who chairs the Health portion subcommittee to see if there is any way that we can increase the number of slots. As you know, the Governor sets the revenue estimate, which is in reality a cap under which we must work. To add any slots means we have to cut something else in the Governor's recommendations. Believe me, there are many items, certainly including these waivers, that I would like to add more funding to."

Sincerely,
Rep Don Parsons, House District 42

Jan 23rd
"Please know that I will do what I can. Let me know if any new information comes out."

Rep Billy Horne, House District 71

Jan 23rd
"Nothing has changed in my support. We will see what we can do."

Thanks,
Senator Mitch Seabaugh, Senate District 28

The Legislative focus on Education

This week, I attended my first meeting on education at the Capitol. Being the self- designated "apprentice" this year, I was excited. It was the joint House and Senate Education meeting on Best Practices and Educational Excellence. Representative Brooks Coleman and Senator Dan Moody are the respective chairmen and made it quickly appearant that "excellence" is now the new buzzword for education. According to these legislators, Georgia's education system is making a fundamental shift from "basic" to "excellent." The state wants to build a cost model from the ground up to measure student's performance with the ultimate goal being a ROI ( Return On Investment) analysis. They called for education to tie dollars to performance recommendations so that Georgia could continue to investing in education. They also called for the system to be transparent - saying that these goals would enable all children to have access a quality education. Legislators expressed concerned about issues such as: involving advocacy, identifying a workable defination of "excellence," defining per student cost, simplying the formula for funding, and encouraging community partnerships with parental involvement.

Buzzwords, vague lofty language, and uncertain short term goals aside, it made me think of how
the decisions that these legislators and administrators ultimately make trickles down to parents like me and the affect my own two kids who receive services through the special education system.

So what are the burning questions, issues, and buzzwords that we as parents need to be focused on and drive home to legislators?

What is on your mind these days regarding your child's education?

Governor’s Forecast “Sunny” for Georgians? Not For All of Them

Press Release 1/26/06


Gov. Sonny Perdue last week presented his vision for Georgia -- spelled out in dollars and cents to the General Assembly and voters -- in his State of the State address. In his words, the State of the State is “Sunny,” as Georgia has seen higher than expected tax revenues totaling an extra $1.25 billion for this year, and $2 billion over the last two years.

While the disability community is grateful to the Governor for the 925 new services allotted for people with disabilities in last year’s budget, this year’s outlook does not appear even partly sunny. The warmth of that new $1.25 billion dollars does not match the true need of a fast-growing segment of Georgia’s population: individuals with physical and developmental disabilities.

These Georgians – many of whom need assistance with everyday tasks such as shopping, transportation and caring for their children – face a very dark forecast indeed, thanks to a state government poised to take three steps back when it comes to disability issues.

To understand our state of the state, it’s important to know that more than 6,400 individuals in Georgia are on waiting lists for desperately needed services. We can expect to see this list to continue to grow by more than 1,100 new people each year -- as it did last year. This year, the not-so-sunny budget calls to open up 750 slots on the waiting lists, half of the 1,500 new slots recommended by the Unlock the Waiting Lists Campaign. This proposed budget puts does not match the critical needs for these individuals.

In reality, these 750 slots recommended by the governor are dramatically fewer than last year’s 925. Because many individuals need more than one service, it means that we are reducing the waiting lists by only around 500 people. This commitment has left many families confused and disappointed, particularly given that the economy is growing so strongly. This issue enjoys legislative champions from both sides, and these families are looking for this leadership to give them hope -- despite politics.

While it’s great that Georgia is booming, Georgia isn’t benefiting from the boom when families struggling the most don’t share in the proceeds from this positive economic forecast. Not only are these families left behind, they are being pushed deeper into the shadows; with many feeling forgotten and forsaken. We know that the Governor understands and cares for people with disabilities, but this budget proposal feel incomplete...we worry that this budget leaves many behind. For families struggling with disabilities, it’s about services that can mean the difference between life and death for their loved ones – people who are your fellow Georgians, too.
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Third Week of the Session

The third week at the Capitol was a blur of legislative surveys, meetings with key legislators and committee meetings - all focused on advocating for the 1,500 new MRWP and 152 ICWP slots. The advocacy for the ICWP slots last week began slowly with no one able to come down to the capitol for the Joint Budget briefings, but picked up speed with strategy meetings taking place at the start the week. The result was a ICWP fact sheet.

We also released a press release highlighting why the Governor's proposal for 750 new MRWP and no ICWP slots was inadequate and fails to continue a committment to a multiple year funding strategy of dealing with Georgia's waiting lists for disability supports.

We also, with the help of Paulette, a Georgia State University social work student, began asking both senate and house legislators to take a stand on our issues - and recording and posting their answers on our website. This week, we were able to survey 35 legislators on the following questions: (1) what should their constituents know about their direct support for disbaility issues at the capitol, (2) who do they turn to for advice on disability issues, (3) in accordance to the multiple year funding plan, will they support 1,500 new MRWP and 152 new ICWP slots, (4) and are they planning to attend lunch during Disabilty Day at the Capitol on February 23rd.

On Thursday, Rep. Jeff Brown held his House Health Subcommittee of Appropriations to hear from several state agencies on the FY06 budget - that included DHR. During this briefing, the Director for MHDDAD, Gwen Skinner said that "they would not allow children's money to serve adults and for adults money to serve children" when talking about past practices for using TANF. Director Skinner was backing up Commissioner Walker's belief that Community Service Boards were over serving adults and that they were going to meet with them that week to discuss ways to move their practices closer to the intent of the money they are currently receiving.

Second Week of the Session

The General Assembly has recessed this week but work has continued. Advocates continued to meet with their legislators and many of you have sent hundred of emails asking your legislators to reconsider cutting the number of slots for people with disabilities waiting on lists for help. Some of the responses are positive and some are tentative. Some of the responses have included:

Jan 20th
I appreciate your email and your advocacy for those issues. It means a lot to get the appeal; first-hand from someone that I know is dedicated. Please give my best to [your family] and I hope you all will be able to come up during the Session.

Senator Jack Hill, District 4

Thank you for your email regarding funding for home and community based services. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I will certainly work to increase the number of slots - as our budget allows. I appreciate you bringing this to my attention, and I hope you will continue to keep me advised on any other matters of interest.

Sincerely,
Rep. Mark Burkhalter, District 50

I got your email on this and will do what I can to support your proposal.

Sincerely,
Senator Michael S. Meyer von Bremen, District 12

Thanks, we will continue to push for it.

Senator Judson H. Hill, Esq., District 32

Thanks for your e-mail. As you know, I’m a strong supporter of getting EVERYONE off the waiting list, and ensuring that every Georgian with developmental disabilities receives the proper community supports. Unfortunately, however, I’m not on the House Appropriations Committee. I definitely suggest getting in touch with the legislators who are on the Appropriations Committee, and then you can count on my support when the budget reaches the floor of the House. Jill Chambers, who also represents part of DeKalb in the House, sits on Appropriations.


Rep Mike Jacobs, District 80

Senator Golden asked me to let you know that he will certainly support and help in any way he can. Thanks for keeping us updated. Carmen

Carmen Alexander
Administrative Assistant
Office of Senator Tim Golden, District 8

We are asking for more money this year in our house budget. Keep your fingers crossed.

Rep Jay Shaw, District 176

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK - KEEP SENDING EMAILS. Go to the UnlocktheWaitingLists.com website to find more information on how you can help.

In addition to the work being done to reinstate the slots to 1,500 MRWP and to add 152 ICWP slots to the budget, a hearing was held on Thursday to hear testimony on the Katie Beckett Waiver. As expected it was a packed and emotional 3 hours with the number of families being able to testify limited because of the overwhelming response. An article in the AJC covered this meeting well:

Lawmakers heard Thursday that state officials were unprepared for the fallout when families with special-needs children were suddenly dropped from the Katie Beckett Medicaid program ...Sen. Greg Goggans (R-Douglas) said lawmakers and program officials needed to "work on this quickly." To read this article by Patty Guthrie, go to State blindsided on cuts for special-needs kids ajc.com

Keep sending emails to legislators and if you get a response - send them our way - we will post them here!

Thanks for all you are doing! Remember Disability Day on February 23rd at the Capitol!

In the Governor's own words

Governor Perdue presented his vision for Georgia to the General Assembly and Georgia's voters last week in his State of the State address.

The State of Georgia? In his words..."Sunny!"

Governor Perdue was able to take this year as an opportunity to focus on his priorities because of the projected "one and quarter billion dollars in new revenues for 2007."

This surplus is coming from a state economy chugging along at 8.3% from last year. Governor Perdue said, "Our economy [is] growing again...we’re putting the dark clouds behind us. And we have many more sunny days ahead..." Furthermore, he says, "Georgia’s economic comeback is, above all, a tribute to our strengths as a state and to the optimism and enterprise of our citizens."

He also said, "that strong revenue gain gives us all a sense of relief."

Relief for who?

If you were cynical, one could not help but wonder if this relief is focused not much beyond November 2006. He no doubt remembers that his winning the Governor's race was attributed to dissatification of state employees and teachers toward then Governor Barnes. So, among other things, Perdue included in his budget proposal funding for teachers in and out of their classrooms, a 4% to 7% pay raise for teachers and/or all state employees, new funding for important research in Georgia, and $45 million to add more than 4,300 beds to the State’s prison system, reducing the backlog in our jails and courts.

He also stated that he understood "what it means for those of us entrusted with the management of government to meet our obligations of stewardship." In other words, Governor Perdue seems to be proposing that because things are so good economically and because the state has met obligations, or finished its work for the people - we can afford to give back money.

Governor Perdue boasted that since taking office he has proposed sending a total $2 billion back to Georgia taxpayers. Something we can all celebrate...this money is ours and should come back to us...if the work is done. But is the work done?

I am left with more questions than answers...

• Is the work done when there are over 6,400 people with disabilities on waiting lists in Georgia needing help?
• Is it the Government's role to help people with disabilities, people whom without our support would be some of the most vulnerable in our society?
• Is the work done when over 700 students are added each year to these waiting lists?
• Is the work done when last year we saw 1,187 new people added to these lists?
• Is the work done when it costs 2.6% more to raise a child with a disability than a typical child?
• Is the work done when Georgia ranks last in our committment to home and community services?
• Is the work done when the New Commission for Georgia has said that we are spending too much on services and supports in insitutions and hospitals and not enough in the community?
• Is the work done when over 60% of people with disabities are being taken care of by a family member, and that there over 17,000 of these family caregivers over the age of 60.

Is the work done when that there is a multiple year plan to address all of these challenges given to him by the Departments of Community Health and Human Resources?

We know that thousands of Georgians will be asking the same questions and looking for hope.

First Week of the Session

We spent the first week of the session working hard to make sure legislators understood our reaction to the Governor's FY07 budget. In a word, dissappointment! Governor Perdue chose not to fund the 1,500 new slots called for by the multiple year funding plan developed by DHR and DCH. We feel that funding only 750 slots, with so much honest need throughout Georgia, is clearly a step backwards for disability supports. Last year we watched the waiting list grow by 1,187 people; 750 is just not good enough. And 750 slots is misleading, included in these slots is much needed support for 123 people being served in the prisons of institutions and nursing homes. We celebrate the opportunity for these 123 to finally live where they choose, but because they currently recieve supports, they are not counted in the 6,489 people on the waiting lists. That leaves only 627 slots for the 6,489 currently waiting and the over 1,000 people we are going to see come onto the list over the next year.

Some of our visits with legislators were hopeful, such as with Rep Brown and Rep Manning. They were very supportive of our issue and I believe really want to try to help. These two legislators even voiced their concern publicly during the House Health subcommittee on Thursday.

But there is very hard work again to convince legislators that they need to find the money to restore the slots to 1,500. You can help. We are also looking for volunteers to help us survey all 236 legislators on disability issues. We will post their responses on their websites, for example, click Rep Sharon Cooper to see what one legislator said about our issues. If you are interested in helping us, just email us and let us know. You would need to be able to spend a few hours at the Capitol.

Are you outraged, frustrated, motivated...what do you think our response to the Governor's budget funding only 750 slots should be?!

First Day of the Session

The 2006 Session of the Georgia General Assembly began today. Over the next 40 working days, we will be needing your help again to make sure that our State Legislators don't forget people in Georgia with developmental disabilities. Even though things happen/change quickly - we hope to use this tool to keep you better informed on how you can help. The links to the right of this entry will be helpful throughout the session.

The Governor will present his State of the State on Wednesday. You can watch it live at www.gpb.org. See below for more information on other resources...

Go to the Unlock the WaitingLists website for the latest on action alerts and what you can do to help. Click Find your Legislator to...well...find information about your legislators. You will also notice that we will be adding information on their position on our issues. There are already over 30 legislators that have taken a stance - go ahead and find out if your legislator is one of those. In order to keep track of state legislation that impacts people with disabilities, click Track State Legislation. We have made it simple for you to weed through the hundreds of bills. We will also translate the jargon so that you can understand why you should care! We will also filter the hundreds of meetings at the Capitol on our Calendar of Advocacy Events, so you know which ones are most important. And as always, make sure you are recieving information about by Joining Our Efforts. We really do need your help!

Lt. gov. proposes plan to insure all kids

Lt Gov Mark Taylor announced yesterday that if Illinois can do it, we can do it too...Over the last two years we have watched a debate play out in the General Assembly about whether parents ahve the right to medical coverage for their kids with disabilities under a plan called the Katie Beckett waiver. The Department of Community Health has tried to chip away at its coverage by proposing premiums, a proposal that was wisely smacked down by the Georgia's legislators. They then have pushed thousands of families off of this important safety net by tightening eligilbility for children. The end result, more families are afraid of falling into medical and financial crisis at any minute. Lt. Gov Taylors' proposal is a recognition that this issue is larger than just kids with disabilities, even though it is sometimes easier to see the responsibility here, it is a issue of healthcare for all kids.

What do you think, does this have to be a partisan issue?

Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor announced Monday a proposal that would provide health insurance coverage for every child in Georgia, regardless of family income — an idea that is likely to face opposition from Republicans... Taylor's staff said there are 99,751 children in Georgia who are uninsured and do not qualify for Medicaid or PeachCare, according to a 2004 report by the
American Academy of Pediatrics. The plan would not have income caps; instead the state would use family income to determine insurance co-payments. For example, a family earning less than $100,000 a year with one child would pay $40 per month in premiums, $10 for a doctor visit co-payment and 5 percent for a drug co-payment.

Lt. gov. proposes plan to insure all kids ajc.com

Legislators: Central State jobs could be safe

Keich Whicker wrote this piece in the Macon Telegraph this morning on the proposal to move 135 people from an institution in Milledgeville called Central State hospital to the community. State Sen. Johnny Grant and Rep. Bobby Parham are quoted throughout the article making the case that this budget item is a jobs issue. We know that people with disabilities want and are able to live in the community, because 10 others states have successfully made this type of transition work. We also know that these jobs are needed in the community to continue to support people with disabilities. For more facts or to write a letter to the Editor of the Macon Telegraph click here: The Unlock Website.

Two Milledgeville legislators said Wednesday that about 400 jobs at Central State Hospital may have been saved.
State Sen. Johnny Grant and Rep. Bobby Parham said some of the $17 million in cuts the Department of Human Resources recommended in its 2007 budget proposal to the state might not happen after all...Heather Hedrick, a press secretary for the governor, said Perdue's final decision about the cuts will be based on two factors.
"There are long-term interests and short-term interests," she said. "In the short term, Gov. Perdue wants to do what's in the best interests of longtime state employees who have been loyal to the state for a number of years. ... Long term, research and studies show people with health problems are better off being integrated with their communities ... and the governor wants to work toward that."
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Macon Telegraph 01/05/2006 Legislators: Central State jobs could be safe