[Mn-at-large] FW: [Nfbmn-news] Another action alert re funding for seniors

[Andrews, David B (DEED)]

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMN-News [mailto:nfbmn-news-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jennifer Dunnam via NFBMN-News
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2016 10:15 AM
To: nfbmn-news <nfbmn-news at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Nfbmn-news] Another action alert re funding for seniors

Dear Minnesota Federationists:

Here is another request for your help and an update on our effort to secure increased funding through the legislature for services to seniors through State Services for the Blind. After a fairly convoluted process, there is still funding to State Services for the Blind to provide services to seniors on the table. However, it is currently a one-time amount of $200,000 rather than an appropriation for each year going forward. Of course, to be of real help, the funding will need to be available each year. The relevant bill, hf2749, is currently in conference committee. I urge each of you to contact the following conferees to let them know that to meet the needs of the growing number of seniors who need adjustment-to-blindness services, funding to State Services for the blind must be ongoing, not just for one year.

The list of conferees is below. Of course it would be great for each and every Federationist to call and/or tweet all ten of them. However, here is the plan if you are not able to contact all ten, so that we make sure everyone gets called:
Members of the central Minnesota chapter should contact representative Knoblach at least.
If you live in the district of these legislators you should contact the ones where you live at least.
Otherwise, if your last name begins with a-f, Contact Knoblach, Loon and Wiger--more if you can.
If your last name begins with g-l, contact Cohen, Garofalo and Lourey--more if you can.
M-r contact Knoblach, Dean and Saxhaug--more if you can.
S-Z contact  Cohen, Fischbach and McNamara--more if you can.

Here are the phone numbers and twitter handles. Please ask them to keep the new funding for seniors through State Services for the blind in HF 2749 but to make it ongoing instead of just one-time. Thanks to all.

House members:

Chair: Jim Knoblach, St. Cloud, 651-296-6612 @jimknoblach
Jenifer Loon, Eden Prairie, 651-296-7449 @jeniferloon 	
Pat Garofalo, Farmington, 651-296-1069 @PatGarofalo  Pat Garofalo Matt Dean, Dellwood, 651-296-3018 @repmattdean  Matt Dean Denny McNamara, Hastings, 651-296-3115

Senate members:

Chair, Richard Cohen, St. Paul, 651-296-5931 Chuck Wiger, Maplewood, 651-296-6820 @ChuckWiger Tony Lourey, Kerrick, 651-296-0293 Tom Saxhaug, Grand Rapids, 651-296-4136 Michelle Fischbach, Panesville, 651-296-2084

_____________________ 


David Andrews | Chief Technology Officer
Department of Employment and Economic Development 
State Services for the Blind, 2200 University Ave. W., Suite 240, St. Paul MN 55114
Direct: 651-539-2294 | Mobile: 612-730-7931
Web | Twitter | Facebook