Partnership Resources, Inc.

It may feel powerful to express ideological points because you were elected, and it may feel powerful to dig in and win at any cost, but please Mr. and Ms. legislator, not at the cost of forcing a government shutdown! Why, because the consequences of just paying attention to winning, and not paying attention to those who depend on you, can come at extreme costs, deep costs, that hurt people. Let me repeat this, you will hurt people, you will hurt families, you will hurt neighbors, if you do not do the job you were paid to do.

Here’s what can happen more specifically , You will hurt individuals with developmental disabilites WHOM WE HAVE HELPED FOR DECADES TO FINALLY OVERCOME. injustices they faced during the days of institutionalization. You will hurt the progress these individuals have made as emerging artists, actors, volunteers,and as productive, working class, tax paying citizens.

So what is real power?

Real power is being displayed by citizens with disabilities that have defied all odds and are breaking down stereotypes, raising awareness,and adding beauty to the world.

Real power is investing in people not ideologies.

Real power is becoming role models to our children by compromising and reaching solutions no matter what the differences.

So remember why we elected you, and demonstrate real power to make a difference. We are counting on you to finish your job with pride on behalf of all of us.

“This bill also moves Minnesota in the wrong direction in the care of seniors and people with disabilities. Minnesota has pursued a decades-long, bipartisan strategy that supports people in their homes and in the community so they do not need to live in institutions. Yet 98% of the reductions to long-term care are to home and community based services with only 2% to institutions. The bill would force 1,500 people into nursing homes. This is bad public policy; not only is it much less costly in the long run to support people in their homes and the community, but this is where seniors and people with disabilities want to live. We should not move backward in an area where we have had so much success.”

~ Excerpt from the letter that Governor Mark Dayton sent to Legislative Leaders accompanying his veto of the Health and Human Services budget

The 2011 legislative session has ended without a budget in place. Governor Dayton and the leadership of the House and Senate remain at odds on how to best solve Minnesota’s budget deficit. The GOP leadership of the House and Senate passed budget bills which attempt to resolve the situation through a cuts only approach. Governor Dayton, on the other hand, has produced several proposals which take an approach that includes significant cuts as well as tax increases on those whose earnings are among the top 2% in the state. The GOP leadership of the House and Senate strongly oppose this approach and argue that we must balance the budget without increasing revenues. Governor Dayton and the DFL caucus in turn argue that while the GOP budget does not raise income taxes, everyone in the state will see higher taxes through property taxes, fees, and other increases as the effects of the cuts trickle down through state agencies and the county and local level.

This impasse has resulted in strong rhetoric from both sides with very little apparent compromise taking place. Because the budget was not finalized during the session, there will need to be a special legislative session to finish the job. It is the Governor’s responsibility to call a special session, but that is unlikely to happen until there is an agreement in place between the Governor and the Legislative leaders. It is unlikely that any such agreement will occur in the short term as the two sides remain far apart and are currently working to position themselves in the best possible light with regards to the electorate.

If no budget agreement is reached by July 1^st, we will be facing a state government shutdown. Exactly what this shutdown will look like is unclear at this point in time. In past shutdowns, certain functions were deemed essential and the kept operating. During the last shutdown in 2005, DT&H services were deemed essential and kept operating. There is no guarantee that this would be the case this year and it is very likely that we could see a more widespread shutdown of state services as the current budget expires.

At this time, we encourage you to continue your communication with your Representatives and Senators. Let them know the importance of services to your family and to the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities. A balanced approach is one which will best help protect our vulnerable citizens. Minnesota is facing difficult economic challenges and everyone will need to play a role in the solution. People with disabilities and other vulnerable populations have seen the services available to them cut over the past 8 years and we need to ensure that further cuts are fair and do not fall disproportionally to our most disenfranchised citizens. As the process continues, we will work to keep you informed and issue specific action alerts when appropriate to ask you to call on specific bills or bill language.