Legislative Challenges and Changes : Maintaining Mental Health Funding in these Economic Times

1. Legislative Challenges and Changes: Maintaining Mental Health Funding in these Economic Times

2. 2009 Session • $4.6 billion shortfall for the biennium • $278 million less due to Federal Funding • $15.7 million recommended to be cut from human services • $24 M cuts to PCA, Limits to CADI Waiver • Specific MH funding held • Anoka revamped

3. 2009 Session • Veto of second year of funding for GAMC • $236 unalloted from human services • Unallotment of funding for GAMC and SOS

4. What’s Next? • FY 2010-11 Revenues 1.7 Percent Below Forecast - $52 million less! • Estimated payments are 30 percent less • More cuts in store

5. 2010 Session • Save health care for people on GAMC • Protect Mental Health Funding – infrastructure, payments to providers • Protect Bridges housing, employment funds • Protect mental health services and discharge planning in prisons & jails

6. 2010 Legislative SessionKey Issues • Parents on screening teams • Keep records private • Juvenile Justice • Schools and Treatment

7. 2010 Session • Maintenance of Effort • County Redesign • Insanity Defense • SOS Redesign

8. We make the road by walking Antonio Machado

9. The Moral of This Story Is… • We are more powerful together • There is strength in numbers • There must be a leader ORGANIZE!

10. The Legislative Process

11. The Legislature • 67 Districts • One Senator • Two Representatives Per District – You Have One • Two U.S. Senators • One U.S. Representative

12. The Idea Ideas for legislation often come from people telling their story to their legislator Think of recently passed laws dealing with: • Seclusion & Restraint • Video Cameras in 24 Hour Stores • Teacher Training • Katie Beckett Waiver

13. Bill is Introduced • A legislator is the chief author • There may be co-authors • The bill is given a number HF 2 SF 3 • The bill is referred to a committee

14. Policy Committee • Bill must be given a hearing • Thousands of bills introduced every year, not every bill receives a hearing • Author presents bill • Testimony of people affected by the bill • Questions • Amendments • Vote • Referral to money committee

15. Money Committee • Money, Budget, Appropriation Committees • Put together a budget for a specific part of state government • Any bill that will cost money must go to a money committee

16. Money Committee • Each major section of government has a money committee – Budget, Finance, etc. • Early Childhood; Environment, Agriculture, Economic Development; Health and Human Services; Higher Education; K-12 Education; Public Safety; State Government; Transportation

17. Money Committee • Each of these committees - in the House and Senate – is given a budget target • They develop Omnibus Appropriation Bills • Hundreds of pages

18. Full Floor • Bill passes out of committee • Sent to full floor • Second reading: discussion and amendments • Laid over 24 hours • Third reading: final passage • Sent to other body

19. Conference Committee • Bill must be identical before sent to the Governor • Conference Committee appointed • Five people, House and Senate • Work out agreement • Sent back to full floor of House and Senate

20. Governor • Once bill passed by both bodies • Identical language • Sent to Governor’s Office • Signs it, line-item veto, or vetoes whole bill

21. You can hitch your wagon to the stars, but you can’t haul corn or hay in it if its wheels aren’t on the ground.Mordecai Pinkney Horton

22. Who Represents You • Know what district you live in • Federal and State • Know what committees he or she serves on • Write down his or her address, number, and email

23. You Can Make a Difference • Legislators measure public support on an issue by the number of calls and letters they receive. • Your one phone call, your one letter can and does make a difference! There is one thing you have to learn about our movement. Three people are better than no people. Fannie Lou Hamer

24. How Fast Can You Get to 10? Co-Worker Sister Brother Mom Dad Priest Rabbi Neighbor Friend Teacher

25. Rules to Live By • Only contact YOUR legislator • Elected officials only care about the opinions of the people who live in their district

26. Rules to Live By Never threaten Never insult Never say “I won’t vote for you if…”

27. Part of a Whole • Always state what group with whom you are connected • Say you’re a NAMI member • Helps your lobbyist • Legislators will think about you when they hear NAMI’s position

28. If you don’t like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just have to do it one step at a time.Marian Wright Edelman

29. Types of Contact • Personal • Letters • Email • Phone

30. Personal Contact • Appointments • Day on the Hill • Town Meeting • Tour in your Community • House Party • Doorknocking

31. Appointment • Be on time • Know what committee he or she is on • Plan ahead who will start • Plan ahead who will make what points

32. Agenda • Introductions • Describe problem or issue • Tell personal story • Offer solutions • Talk about what is happening in their district and why they should care about the issue • Ask for their position • Thank them Be succinct You only have 10 – 15 minutes!

33. Be positive and friendly Be concise and limit the number of issues Give reliable information Be firm Thank them for their time Wait until you’re in the car to complain Write a thank you letter when you get home Be confrontational, berate or yell Get off the subject, ramble on, talk about the weather Guess or make up data Say they’re a jerk Say “this was a waste of my time” Talk about how bad they are while at the capitol Write a letter to the editor saying how awful they are Do’s and Don’ts

34. Can’t Get an Appointment? • Visit when in full session • Ask page to bring in note • State you are from district • You have just a few minutes • Ask aide to bring you to committee room

35. Appointments

36. Day on the Hill • Mental Health Day on the Hill • Learn about issues in the morning • Rally in the Rotunda at noon • Meet with your state senator and representative in the afternoon

37. Day on the Hill

38. Day on the Hill

39. Day on the Hill

40. Tour in Community • Invite elected officials out • Visit program, meet people • Explain importance • Educate about issues

41. Town Meeting • Legislators often hold meeting in their districts • Attend meeting • Ask questions • Bring a group • Stand out – wear buttons or t-shirts Everywhere I go someone is asking me about mental health services

42. House Parties • Invite 5 to 10 people to your home • Invite your state senator and representative • Discuss your issues • Tell your story This is an informal and non-threatening way to discuss your issues. Do in the fall during a non-campaign season.

43. House Parties

44. House Parties

45. Letters • Most common • Good to use during early part of the session • These are not business letters • Tell your story

46. Letters • Keep to one page • One issue per letter • Get right to the point – I do or don’t support SF/HF • Tell why you are interested in this issue • Don’t threaten or insult • Thank them • Include name, address and phone number

47. Outline for Letters • Honorable ……. • Dear Senator/Representative • State why you are writing • State your interest • State your position • Ask for action • Thank them • Name, address, phone number If they vote the right way, send them a thank you note!

48. Make Your Letter Stand Out • Can be handwritten • Don’t use white paper • Include photos • Never use form letters • Attach articles • Let your creativity flow

49. E-Mails • Treat like a letter • Use near end of session • Keep them short • In subject area, state subject and that you are a constituent • Never use on federal level

50. Phone Calls • Use when time is short • Be brief • Be clear • Use the Cliff Notes version of your story • Leave a very short message if not in • Watch your clock!