A.C.C.E.S.S. and "Public Policy"
One of the basic ideals that form the basis of A.C.C.E.S.S. is that it is of the utmost importance that the child care provider voice be heard by those who are making decisions that effect our work and the well being of those we care for.
PLEASE CHECK IN FREQUENTLY, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU UPDATES ON WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE POLICY FRONT ON BOTH THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.
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ACCESS PUBLIC POLICY Monday, January 25, 2010
It was good to see some of you in person last week. I look forward to receiving some backup data for the initiatives we discussed so we can do some follow up at the Statehouse.
John
Weekly Overview
Last week at the state house was marked by all committees rolling up their sleeves to understand the impact of the budget cuts on their areas of jurisdiction. All around, it is going to be very challenging. Many debilitating cuts, cutting into the very infrastructure and foundation of the services that people expect from their government. This is true everywhere - but it is no more clear than in Human Services. HHS Commissioner and all of the others are saying “there are no good choices”. It seems particularly difficult at this time, because they are also acknowledging that many of the cuts being proposed are very short term in nature and are likely in the longer term, be more expensive for the state. “Penny wise and pound foolish” was a phrase quoted in many committee rooms by many people from the executive branch, to the legislators, to advocates and consumers of services.
At the same time, Gov. Baldacci gave his final State of the State address. He sounded the bell for the beginning signs of hope, of economic recovery, of improvement - but acknowledged it will be a long, slow process. He also reiterated his opposition to new, broad based taxes which brought one side of the aisle to their feet and left the other side seated and completely silent.
So, this week is a tipping point. After the detailed review last week, now committees will see what actually can be done. Which of these cuts can they actually stomach making and which will they just reject as too deep and too negative in their impact? This means that NOW is the time for you to be in touch with your legislators. Every single legislator must hear loud and clear THIS WEEK that these cuts cannot stand; that Maine can do better. You must make the call, write the email, write a letter to the editor if we are to mitigate these cuts at all. There will be crucial budget caucuses the first week in February. We must make enough calls, generated enough interest and public concern to have them all looking for alternatives. The public hearings were hugely successful in setting the tone for the next step in the process. The time to take action is NOW!!
There are definitely groups of legislators getting together formally and informally to express their concern and talk about what their action is likely to be as things move forward. Clearly a group that will not vote for any revenues, and another group that will not vote for a budget with this level of cuts - and is looking for alternatives.
Each of you has been informed of the key strategies for your specific area(s) of interest, but even if you don't have a particular issue at this time, a general call to your legislator stating that you do not agree with the cuts in the budget and you want them to look for alternative solutions is critical.
Appropriations will begin to get report backs from the policy committees this week. They are still on a very fast track to have this budget completed by March 1st.
Thank you in advance for all you work at getting your grass roots networks into action so we can introduce some room to move for legislators.
Last Tuesday Moose Ridge held its second annual legislative reception. It ended up snowing pretty heavily that night so we had a lighter turn out than usual, but there were key legislators and some wonderful Moose Ridge clients who had the opportunity to talk more casually and brainstorm ideas, laugh quite a bit and certainly decide that we should do it again - maybe even again this year in a more impromptu way! Thanks to those of you who were able to make it. We had great food and great fun..
Really, this is such an important week to determine momentum. Please take a moment right now to be in contact with you Representative, Senator and any other legislator you have a connection with. Also, it is a good idea to let the Governor's office know what you are thinking, too.
Thanks so much for all you do.
Betsy, John and Beth
PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE
http://www.maine.gov/legis/senate/Documents/hearing/ANPHFrame.htm
WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT
http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/wlr/wlr1004.htm
John Hennessy
PO Box 1112
Portland, ME 04104
jjhmaine@maine.rr.com
207.671.3504
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Children and Families and the Maine State Budget Crisis, Teleconference
Thursday, January 7
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Additional Materials
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Proposed New Maine Legislation Aimed At Re-Structuring of the Child Development System (CDS) in Maine
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MOOSERIDGE ASSOCIATES:
WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
JANUARY 10, 2010
We have been predicting a wild and busy start to the session and we were not wrong! The Second Session officially got underway on Wednesday and it did so at warp speed. Ordinarily, the first day of a new session feels like the first day of school with a lot of excitement, hope about all the new things to come and some new pencils! This session had none of that (not even new pencils). Legislators and Advocates arrived at the statehouse ready to get down to business and nervous and guarded about the budget tsunami that they and we are facing. As of the close of Thursday’s legislative session, 92% of all bills introduced in the second session have been referred to committees of jurisdiction. The committee calendar is filling up quickly!
Appropriations met all week. On Wednesday, the Committee wrapped up the 30 million dollar hole that they had put in the budget last year. That effort took the entire summer and fall and, in the end, they did it by finding a change in the Treasurer's department and then a few cuts here and there. If that was the process for 30 million, it boggles the mind to think about what might be as we face a $438 million dollar shortfall.
Public hearings began on Thursday regarding the new supplemental budget. To date, the hearings have been full of impact statements and short presentations by Commissioners regarding the very difficult impacts these additional cuts will have on their departments and the people they serve. And that is BEFORE the Human Services and Education Cuts this week. On Monday HHS begins their 3 days of hearings. As you know, these cuts are devastating, and on top of 6 years of cut backs that have also had serious impact. We all know from years past that these next three days will be long, drawn out and frustrating AND that they are critical in letting legislators know the impact that these cuts will have on Maine Citizens.
The Committee has put out a list of procedures and a series of overflow rooms (attached) for the 3 days. They also have printed the document that they intend to work from during the hearing. Please review these before you come so you have a good sense of how it is supposed to go. As in all years past they have limited all public testimony to 3 minutes per person.
There are also two press activities that will happen this week. On Tuesday, Jan 12 at noon will be a press conference/large gathering of people in the Hall of Flags with "Maine Can Do Better". The message is that in this type of situation ALL options have to be on the table if we are to preserve the very structures and foundation of government services. There will be an economist there to talk about the overwhelming opinion of economists that we cannot cut our way out of this recession. Also, people will be there who lived through this situation in the early 90's to talk about the solution then (penny on the sales tax, 10 % income tax surcharge, 'snack tax'). An interesting side note is that during that time, Sawin Millett (currently on Appropriations) was the negotiator for Gov. Jock McKernan who put this plan into effect, and John Baldacci was in the State Senate and part of the team that negotiated this solution back then.
Because of the strength of these arguments, we learned last Friday afternoon that the very conservative Maine Heritage Policy Center has called for a counter rally next week - same time, same place. Their nervousness about this should give us all hope about the strength of the message that all options need to be on the table to get us out of this economic mess. And it means it is more important than ever for people to show up and support this effort. Please be there if you can.
On Wednesday, Jan 13th at noon there will be a press conference specifically on the devastating community mental health cuts followed by the appropriations hearings that afternoon. Again, any show of support by attending the noon event will be much appreciated.
Finally, the Moose Ridge Associates 2nd annual reception for legislators will be held on Tuesday, January 19th from 5 -7 pm at the Moose Ridge Offices on 37 Green St. in Augusta. The event was so successful and well attended last year that legislators and clients asked us to do it again. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet legislators, other Moose Ridge clients and a bunch of great people in a casual setting before the session is too far gone. Please join us - and please RSVP to John, Betsy or Beth so we can plan on enough refreshments!
Betsy, John & Beth
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Child Care Food Program Update!!!!
From: Helen Blank
Director, Leadership and Public Policy
National Women's Law Center
Last week, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced legislation that would improve young children’s access to nutritious meals in child care centers, family child care homes, and Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
With your help, we can gain support for the Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act of 2009 (S. 2749).
Please urge your Senators to improve the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
The bill, which would strengthen the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), calls for:
- Increasing reimbursement rates for child care centers and family child care homes.
- Adding a third meal or snack option for children in child care, helping to cover the costs of food for children who are in care for longer hours.
- Expanding CACFP family child care home area eligibility, to make more family child care providers eligible for higher levels of reimbursement.
- Increasing the administrative reimbursement rate for CACFP-sponsoring organizations.
- Streamlining and simplifying program and paperwork requirements for states, sponsoring organizations, child care providers, and parents.
We need your help to gain support for this bill so that we can reach even more children.
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We want to make it possible for you to contact your elected officials to let them know what you think. We encourage you to do this because:
1) The child care provider has a essential and unique perspective on the needs of children and families, and
2) Our obligation to care for these children and families will often require us to need to go beyond what we can provide in our day to day settings.
How to Contact Your Elected Officials
People often have a hard time figuring out who exactly are their elected officials and how best to get in touch with them.
So, we're making that easy for you.
We've put together a number of spread sheets to help you connect with your state legislators.
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If you want to have a mailing list of the entire State Legislature, click on this icon to the right. This spread sheet will also let you know which of these legislators responded to the ACCESS candidate questionnaire.
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124th Maine State Legislature |
If you want to contact the Delegation from your County, click on the County of your choice below.
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And finally, if you want to search for your State Senator and/or Representative by the Town you live in, you can find them on this last spreadsheet, below.
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