SENATE LETS DOWN DISABILITY COMMUNITY

June 1, 2010

SENATE FAILS TO RESTORE KEY SERVICES

ALL BUT ONE AMENMDENT REJECTED

Despite an outpouring of support from thousands of individuals from across the state and more than 100 organizations, the Senate failed to restore nearly all of the disability line items in DDS and other agencies that we championed.
 
The one exception was the DESE-DDS account which helps families keep their child or teen at home in their local school district.  Thanks to the leadership of sponsor Marian Walsh, the line item was increased to $4 Million.  We thank Senator Walsh and her staff for their hard work as she prepares to retire from the Senate at the end of this session.   

Otherwise, disability items did NOT fare well, meaning that hundreds of individuals and families will lose essential services regardless what happens in Conference Committee: 

• 63 to 100 will lose Transportation services
• 225 to 450 will lose Day/Employment services
• Up to 750 could lose Family Support/Respite services
• 86 to 200 will lose their homes
• 180 will not get Turning 22 services
• Up to 200 will not get DESE-DDS program services
• 385 to 395 will lose MRC Extended Employment or Brain Injury services  

Despite the unfortunate outcomes, we do want to recognize and thank all the lead disability amendment sponsors including Senators Gale Canderas, Karen Spilka, Joan Menard, James Eldridge, Brian Joyce, Pat Jehlen, and Tom Kennedy. 
 
We also thank Senators Tucker, Timilty, Fargo, Morrissey (and several of the lead sponsors) for co-sponsoring amendments. Finally, we appreciate the support of Senate Majority Leader Fred Berry and Assistant Majority Whip Steven Tolman for their advocacy for disability issues.  

Stay energized and be prepared to start anew after the Memorial Day weekend   

We must remember that advocating for funding, services and good policy are civic processes that requires constant vigilance. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
 
Furthermore, it is important to understand (much as it pains us) that in most people’s minds we’re merely a back story. The front-page stories continue to be:

• Our economy and the need to see job growth
• The push for tax cuts, which would further drive down revenue further and cause more cuts to our disability safety net 
• Illegal immigration and the Senate’s recent vote to require proof of legal status to get state services

Next Stop: Conference Committee 

Our job now will be to convince the Senate President, Speaker of the House and members of the Conference Committee to adopt the better version of each disability line-item during Conference Committee negotiations: 

• See here for our Senate Budget Review online
• See here for a chart that details each of the “Confererenceable” accounts and which version – House or Senate – we’ll be asking the Committee to adopt.    

Unfortunately, in most cases they will be choosing between bad and worse. Still, we must not give up and let the worst case scenario come to fruition. Next week, we and our partners will put out fact sheets for you and your legislators. 

Budget Process Overview

Thusfar in the budget process, we have final proposals from The Governor, The House and now The Senate.

Here’s what to expect going forward…

1. Senate Final: Full Senate early this morning wrapped up debate and finalized all amendments

2. Conference Committee: 3 House and 3 Senate leaders meet to reconcile House and Senate versions of budget and release its own version in mid-June

3. Governor Vetoes: Conference Committee budget is sent to Governor, who has line-item veto authority. Generally released in late June.

4. Legislative Overrides: Veto overrides must be initiated in the House and require two-thirds passage in both chambers. Typically, these occur in early July.

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