"In our Shoes" Olympia Rally

A huge thank you to Joy Caldwell, Executive Director of The Arc of Island Skagit for making the “In Our Shoes” event such a great success! (see KOMO 4 video coverage of the event)

Revenue forecast is down another $780 million State revenue forecaster Arun Raha said today that state revenues are lower through June 2013 than he predicted last November, in effect widening the state's $3.6 billion to $5.5 billion budget shortfall. Raha is releasing his latest quarterly report at noon that shows a $79.8 million drop in revenues expected by June and $698 million through June 2013. The report will be posted here. Raha's recent monthly tax-collections report is here. "The economic outlook remains cloudy with a great deal of uncertainty," Raha's presentation began. He mentioned oil price volatility tied to Mideast unrest and now the impact of the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan. Read more: http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/17/1582624/revenue-forecast-is-down-another.html#ixzz1GtAD6DEN The House and Senate will likely publish their budget proposals next week. When they do they will hold public hearings right away. If at all possible, try to be prepared to come to Olympia and testify. With a bigger deficit and 70% of the budget untouchable human services are where they look to cut. Watch for an email letting you know the budgets have been released!

State revenue forecaster Arun Raha said today that state revenues are lower through June 2013 than he predicted last November, in effect widening the state's $3.6 billion to $5.5 billion budget shortfall.
Raha is releasing his latest quarterly report at noon that shows a $79.8 million drop in revenues expected by June and $698 million through June 2013. The report will be posted here. Raha's recent monthly tax-collections report is here. "The economic outlook remains cloudy with a great deal of uncertainty," Raha's presentation began. He mentioned oil price volatility tied to Mideast unrest and now the impact of the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan.
Read more: http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/17/1582624/revenue-forecast-is-down-another.html#ixzz1GtAD6DEN

The House and Senate will likely publish their budget proposals next week. When they do they will hold public hearings right away. If at all possible, try to be prepared to come to Olympia and testify. With a bigger deficit and 70% of the budget untouchable human services are where they look to cut. Watch for an email letting you know the budgets have been released!

2011 Supplemental Budget Comparisons

Click Here to view the bills after the House cut-off and the budget after the Governor signed it.

Judge puts hold on DSHS trimming benefits

Forcing poor families with disabled children to count federal disability payments when determining their income would cause "irreparable...

By Carol M. Ostrom

Seattle Times health reporter

Related

Forcing poor families with disabled children to count federal disability payments when determining their income would cause "irreparable harm" to low-income disabled children, a U.S. District Court judge ruled Monday, putting a temporary hold on a state rule change.
The Department of Social and Health Services rule, which was to go into effect Tuesday, would have forced thousands of families to lose benefits from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the State Family Assistance programs, argued lawyers for disabled children and their families.
U.S. District Judge James Robart said that if the new rule were allowed to go forward, those families would be "unable to provide appropriate ... medical care for their minor children with disabilities" and the children would suffer "significant, even life-threatening, adverse health impacts, including hospitalization."
When faced with a conflict between financial and budgetary concerns and "preventable human suffering," the judge wrote, "the balance of hardships tips in the favor of preventing human suffering."
A hearing on the temporary injunction will be held March 21.
Carol M. Ostrom: 206-464-2249 or costrom@seattletimes.com
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014361030_dshs01m.html?syndication=rss

Bills of Interest/ Supplemental Budget Comparison

Click HERE for the Bills of Interest updated 1/17/2011

Click HERE to view the 2010 Supplemental Budget Comparison House/Senate

Legislative Reception Update

PLEASE NOTE:

The time for the Legislative Briefing on January 19, 2011 will begin at 2:00 pm instead of 2:30 pm. The briefing will wrap up by 4:00 pm. This will allow a little more time for advocates to go and eat dinner before the Legislative Reception begins at 5:30 pm.

The Community of People with Disabilities of Washington State

Invites You to Attend The 31^st Annual

Legislative Reception

Wednesday, January 19^th, 2011

5:30 – 7:30

in the Legislative Building’s Columbia Room

Hosted By

The Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, The Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment, The State Independent Living Council, Parkview Services & The Washington State Rehabilitation Council

Contributions Go To:

Coni Mackey at coni@parkviewservices.org or 1-206-542-6644

Other Questions:

David.Maltman@ddc.wa.gov or 1-800-634-4473

A brief summary of the most current issues for developmental disabilities will be provided in the afternoon at The United Churches. Go have dinner after the briefing, then join us at 5:30 in the Columbia Room on the first floor of the Legislative Building for the Legislative Reception.

Briefing 2:00-4:00 pm

The United Churches

110 Eleventh Avenue SE
Olympia, WA 98501

Reception 5:30-7:30 pm

Columbia Room

Legislative Building
Capitol Campus, Olympia

Preliminary budget summary for DD

Click HERE for Governor's Letter

Click Here for Preliminary Budget summary for DD

This morning the Governor’s staff held a meeting to share the Health and Human Services cuts that 3were in the Governor’s 2011-13 biennial budget proposal. Although her 2010 supplemental budget will not be released until Friday, some of its content was shared as well.

Carol Holland led the team of staff and had to choke back tears as she talked about having to take cuts they never thought they would have to take. Here are the highlights from the meeting:

· Elimination of the Basic Health Plan

· Medical Purchasing Authority will be moved from DSHS to the Health care Authority

· Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy for adults will be maintained (no cut)

· Pharmacy benefits for adults will be maintained (no cut)

· Dental services will continue for adults who have a disability

· Adult vision and hearing hardware is suspended in the supplemental budget but is restored in the biennial budget

· Podiatry reimbursements for physicians are eliminated

· Medicare Part D co-pays are eliminated effective January 1, 2011

· Medicaid Personal Care hours will continue the current cuts (average of 10%)

· Close Frances Haddon Morgan Center in 2011

· Close Yakima Valley by January 2012

· Propose NTIB (Necessary To Implement the Budget) bill to allow RHC placement only for adults 21 and older

· Propose bill to take the RHC names out of statute

· Individual and Family services (IFS) is suspended in the supplemental budget but is restored, but with a $1 million reduction in the biennial budget (the program was a total of $12.3 million, it is not clear how this cut will be taken)

· Children’s Intensive In-home Behavior Supports program (CIIBS) reduction is continued in the supplemental, but is fully restored in the biennial budget

· 12% reduction to employment/day services rates to counties

· Employment/day services are provided to 2011-13 graduates on a waiver

· State-only employment/day services are eliminated

· 58 new community residential spots for children from foster care, juvenile rehab, etc.

· Community residential rates will continue to be reduced (getting additional clarification)

· The utility tax will not be pursued

· Reduce agency provider health benefits

· Delay mandatory training for long-term care workers