You have power. It’s not easy to turn the capitol around. But you did!
Yesterday the Senate members of the Health and Human Services (HHS) conference committee presented their first offer in the negotiations and – lo and behold – the Senate took the House position to reduce the provider rate cut from 3% to 2.58%.
Because the Senate matched the House number it’s very unlikely that that number will change – at least until we go into Round 2 after Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoes the bill. But it’s very important to keep the cut as low as possible to set the stage for Round 2.
When the conference committee of five Senate and five House members started the Senate had a target to cut $719 million; the House had to cut $400 million. Legislative leaders agreed yesterday that the conference committee split the difference.
The conference committee is expected to resolve differences between the House and Senate HHS bills by Thursday, with action by the full House and Senate as early as Friday.
Then expect a veto and the House and Senate will need to come up with another bill, which will call for bigger overall cuts.
The important thing for us is to then renew our successful efforts to keep the cut as low as possible. The next funding cut target will likely include legislative leaders and the Governor.
Right now we’re working to convince Gov. Pawlenty that HHS needs enough money to keep our cut as low as possible.
What you need to know is that your calls, emails and visits to the capitol have had a big impact in making disability rates a significant issue – first in the House and now in the Senate. We hope that your success will be strong motivation to take action when we put out our next alert – especially as the sledding gets tougher when the overall cuts to health and human services is bigger.
If you have services or live in a Senate conferees district it wouldn’t hurt to drop a quick note thanking them for taking the House position on the disability provider rate cut.
Here are those conferees:
Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Mpls. / District 61) 651-296-4261
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1005&ls=86
Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon (Duluth / District 7) 651-296-4188
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1061&ls=86
Sen. Tony Lourey (DFL – Kerrick / District 8) 651-296-0293
sen.tony.lourey@senate.mn
Sen. Kathy Sheran (DFL – Mankato / District 23) 651-296-6153
sen.kathy.sheran@senate.mn
Sen. Julie Rosen (R – Fairmont / District 24) 651-296-5713
sen.julie.rosen@senate.mn
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