Legislative Update

From Lurena Mead-
Your Monday Morning Update:

· The Senate Ways and Means Committee spent Monday through Wednesday of last week trying to hammer out a revised budget bill which will be presented to the full Senate once they return to Topeka on Wednesday. The budget bill that the Senate proposed a month ago is now overspent by $486 million. The Committee was charged with the task of balancing the budget by making additional cuts or by coming up with a tax package that would offset spending. The Committee spent Monday morning through noon Wednesday going line by line through their budget bill. They added, they deleted, they tweaked, they altered.

· Key points of the revised bill affecting DD:
- They supported the Governor’s budget by reinstating the 10% cut to Medicaid.
- Restored the $3.1 million from the HCBS DD waiver that was previously cut.
- Did NOT recommend replacing CDDO Grant funds nor the DD State Aid.

· By Wednesday afternoon, the Committee was ready to work on “revenue enhancements”. Several tax scenarios/plans were presented but the Committee was unable to come to an agreement. The conversation got to be fairly brisk as well as brusque so the Committee decided to call it a day. Conversations will continue this week.

· The House Appropriations Committee met on Thursday to start working their budget bill.

· Key points of their negotiations so far:
- Support reinstating the 10% cut to Medicaid.
- Restore $6.9 million (bringing in $16 million in matched federal funds) for the DD and the Physically Disabled waiting lists. This was a pleasant surprise and one that we’ll be watching!

The Walk A Mile in My Shoes Rally at Miller Park in De Soto last Friday was a resounding success! The rain held off and Fox 4 television came for a visit. I’ve attached the link to story if you happened to have missed it. It ran three times Friday night! The baton carrying the 4,300 names of folks on the waiting list has now made its way to Atchison, KS. The baton will end up in Topeka on Wednesday during InterHab’s Push Day.

A reminder that Push Day is on Wednesday. Folks will be meeting at the south end of the Capitol around 10:00. Gary Lezak predicts mid 70’s and sunshine so bring a blanket, a lunch, a bottle of water and some sunscreen. Support the runners/walkers/rollers as they complete the last mile of the relay.

Your TO DO list for the week:

- Please join fellow advocates in Topeka on Wednesday. Beautiful day for a drive and camaraderie for our shared mission!

- Make an appointment to visit your legislators to make sure they know that you EXPECT them to support DD funding!

- Be sure to visit www.invisiblekansans.org

- Remember that your involvement during the next two weeks is imperative.


Warm Regards,
Lurena Mead