Hello all:

Below is a reprinted article from the statehouse daily Gongwer summarizing last Thursday’s Senate Medicaid Committee’s hearing on the developmental disabilities portion of the state budget. The importance of sharing this article is the Committee Chairman’s public comment that restoring DD funding to the Governor’s levels is a Senate priority. If the Senate acts to restore the funding the question will move to Conference Committee where the House of Representatives must agree.

Attached is a document outlining the budget’s funding initiatives and OPRA testimony from President Mark Davis and members Than Johnson, Jamie Steele and Tom Weaver. All focused on restoring funding levels while Jamie and Tom talked extensively on the current workforce crisis.

Thursday provided another full day of emotional testimony on DD issues from a variety individuals. In comparison to the House testimony a large number of those present Thursday supported fully funding the governor’s budget. Because the issues are complex and the emotion of those present so real we will share further examples shortly of those testifying to give you an additional sense of the challenges facing the Senate.

Jeff