[Mn-at-large] action alert about State Services for the Blind

[David Andrews]

>
>Subject: [Nfbmn-news] action alert about State Services for the Blind
>From: Jennifer Dunnam via NFBMN-News <nfbmn-news at nfbnet.org>
>
>Dear Minnesota Federationists:
>
>This email contains background, contact information, and examples to 
>help you be part of speaking out against budget cuts on services for 
>blind Minnesotans. We need everybody's help.
>
>The omnibus bill that includes the budget for Minnesota State 
>Services for the Blind is still in conference committee and, 
>although there has been amendment since the last time we updated 
>about this,  it still contains objectionable provisions. The first 
>problem is the reduction of Minnesota State Services for the Blind's 
>appropriation back to pre-2016 levels after 2019, which would take 
>away the hard-won funding needed for services to Minnesota's growing 
>number of seniors losing vision. The second problem is a prohibition 
>of billing between government agencies, which would cut off SSB's 
>ability to provide textbooks for blind K-12 students (since these 
>books are funded by the Department of Education), and which would 
>cut off NFB-Newsline (funded through the department of Commerce's 
>TAM fund). WE need to call the conferees to request that these 
>problems be corrected.
>Both issues are important, but the reduction of the appropriation 
>after 2019 is probably going to have fewer people speaking out 
>against it than the restriction on moving money, which affects many 
>programs acrosss government. Below are some sentences if you want to 
>speak to both issues when you call, but here is an example of what 
>you can say if you feel you can only focus on one:
>
>"In the current conference committee proposal for DEED, State 
>Services for the Blind's budget is lowered after 2019. Please do not 
>make this reduction, or seniors becoming blind will not get the 
>training they need to stay independent in their homes and communities."
>
>Here is an example of how to tackle both issues in your call:
>
>"During the previous legislative session, five hundred thousand 
>dollars was added to the annual budget of State Services for the 
>Blind (which is a part of DEED) to provide training so that the 
>increasing number of seniors losing their vision can remain 
>independent in their homes and communities. In the current 
>conference committee proposal, this money is being removed after 
>2019, even though the number of seniors needing these services 
>continues to increase. Additionally, the proposal includes new 
>restrictions on transferring money between agencies; this would 
>remove another six hundred thousand from the budget and would take 
>away SSB's ability to produce  braille and audio text books for 
>school children. If these provisions are enacted, SSB's budget would 
>be reduced by 20% after 2019. Please correct this so that seniors 
>can remain independent in their homes and blind school children can 
>receive textbooks in the formats they need."
>
>Phone numbers for the conferees follow. I have also placed a list of 
>the email addresses at the end; some require the use of online forms 
>to contact them and will not accept contact unless one is a 
>constituent. Therefore, phone contact is the preferrred way to do it:
>
>Representative Pat Garofalo (58B): 651-296-1069
>Representative Jim Newberger (15B): 651-296-2451
>Representative Joe Hoppe (47B): 651-296-5066
>Representative Marion O'Neill (29B): 651-296-5063
>Representative Tim Mahoney (67A): 651-296-4277
>Senator Jeremy Miller (28) 651-296-5649
>Senator Gary Dahms (16): 651-296-8138
>Senator David Osmek (33): 651-296-1282
>Senator Paul Anderson (12) (651-296-4317
>Senator Bobby Joe Champion (59) 651-296-9246
>
>Emails:
>rep.pat.garofalo at house.mn
>rep.jim.newberger at house.mn
>rep.joe.hoppe at house.mn
>rep.marion.oneill at house.mn
>rep.tim.mahoney at house.mn
>sen.jeremy.miller at senate.mn
>sen.gary.dahms at senate.mn
>sen.david.osmek at senate.mn
>Paul Anderson 
>https://www.senate.mn/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1232&ls=90
>Bobby Joe Champion 
>https://www.senate.mn/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1212&ls=90
>