[NFBMT] Montana Legislative Update

[BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER]

Good morning, fellow Montana Federationists.

 

Regarding the hearing before the Appropriations Committee on Thursday, March
7:  There was much passionate testimony for and against restoring the funding
cuts to DPHHS and not cutting positions that were left vacant for over a
year, in some cases due to a hiring freeze, in the mistaken belief that if
they were not used during that time, they were not needed.  

 

The committee met Monday, March 11, to take action.  Seven out of thirteen
positions for Blind and Low Vision Services were restored.  This report will
go to the house floor and then to the Senate Finance and Claims Committee.
The comment was made that many of the positions were restored based on the
testimony provided by those in opposition to those cuts.

 

Among other disability groups, this is your NFB of Montana at work.

 

We're not done with this yet.  It has a way to go before the session is over.
There will be debate on the Governor's proposed budget.  These cuts can be
restored by July, 2019, the beginning of the fiscal year, or perhaps sooner.
We still need to be on guard to protect what we have and not lose any more.

 

Still waiting for news about the bill for a penalty for the injury or death
of a guide or service animal.

 

If you would like to leave a message for a legislator, you can call
406-444-4800 and operators will take a message that will be forwarded to
legislators. Please be aware that they will ask for your name and address,
which will not be shared other than with the legislator. The operators can
take a message for up to 5 legislators at one time or to an entire committee.

 

You may also contact legislators using the online web message form
<https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/> .

 

Joy Breslauer, First Vice President and Public Policies Committee Chair 

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/> 

 

Live the life you want

 

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.