[WADNet Post] Apr 2: DAWN Alerts
- From: WADNet Post Editor <wadneteditor@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: wadnetpost@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2007 01:41:36 -0500
DAWN ALERTS
-- Alert: Spring Election
-- Alert: Direct Support Worker Bill in Congress
-- Alert: Health Care Reform Panels
-- Alert: Election News
-- Alert: Governor's Budget Proposal
-- Alert: Budget Information
-- Mar 20-Apr 12: Joint Finance Committee Budget Hearings Locations
-- Apr 2, 4, 5, 9: Sen. Feingold Listening Sessions
-- Apr 11: 1st Self-Directed Services Info Meeting
==================================================
Alert: Spring Election
Here's a reminder that the Spring Election is Tuesday, April 3, 2007.
There is just one statewide office up for election this time and that is
for a seat on the state Supreme Court. The other offices up for
election this time are local like school board, city council and mayor.
There will be a debate between the Supreme Court candidates on Friday,
March 30, 2007 at 7:00 PM. It will be broadcast live on the public
television and radio networks and some other stations. Check your local
listings for coverage near you. In addition, it will be rebroadcast on
Sunday, April 1, 2007 at 10:00 AM.
There is helpful voting information available on two web sites. One is
on the DAWN web site at:
<http://www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/07issues/votingnew.cfm> and
the other is on the Disability Vote web site at:
<http://www.disabilityvote.org/content/>.
Be sure that you are registered to vote and then vote on Election Day!
Voter turnout is usually low for spring elections, so every voter needs
to vote.
(Contributed by: DAWN)
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Alert: Direct Support Worker Bill in Congress
On March 1, 2007 H.R. 1279 was introduced in the US House. This bill
was introduced to address the plight of direct support workers in order
to assist people with disabilities, who rely on their support. The bill
will provide states with the increased Medical Assistance funds to give
private direct support workers more appropriate compensation.
A national advocacy campaign has been developed by the Arc of the United
States, United Cerebral Palsy, ANCOR, and Lutheran Services in America
to enact this bill for people with disabilities nationwide.
Take Action!
As of March 27, 2007 no Representative from Wisconsin was a co-sponsor
on this bill. You can learn more about this bill and send an email to
your representative to ask for their support by going to this web site:
<http://capwiz.com/thearc/issues/alert/?alertid=9525536>
(Contributed by: DAWN)
==================================================
Alert: Health Care Reform Panels
The Institute for One Wisconsin is organizing health care reform panels
around the state. These panels will include representatives of the
major health care reform plans. They will discuss each of their plans
and answer questions from the audience. To read a list of dates and
places of the panels, go to the DAWN web site at:
<http://wcdd.org/whoweare/2007_events/Health%20Care%20Reform%20Panels.pdf>.
Health care reform is a major topic in the legislature this session.
There seems to be consensus that reform is needed. Read more about
health care issues on the DAWN web site at:
<http://www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/07issues/health_carenew.cfm>. The
major health care reform plans are listed in the Background Information
section of that page.
For more information about these panels please contact Kristin Settle at
the Institute for One Wisconsin at (414) 481-4323 or on the Internet
www.onewisconsinnow.org.
(Contributed by: DAWN)
==================================================
Alert: Election News
1. Supreme Court Debate
2. Voting Action Grants
*************************
The Spring Election is Tuesday, April 3, 2007. Be sure that you are
registered to vote and then vote on Election Day!!!
*************************
1. Supreme Court Debate
The two candidates, Linda Clifford and Annette Ziegler, seeking the seat
on the state's Supreme Court will have a debate on Friday, March 30, 2007
at 7:00 pm. This will be covered live by the Wisconsin Public Radio and
Television networks as part of the "We the People" forum. This one hour
debate will be rebroadcast at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 1, 2007.
Check your local listings for the station nearest you.
For information about these candidates go to the Wisconsin Vote web site
at: <http://www.wisconsinvote.org/>.
************************
2. Voting Action Grants
The Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities as part of their
DAWN advocacy project is making available Action Grants for up to $500
for voting activities. Activities could include assisting people to get
to the polls on Election Day, organizing a local candidate forum, or
helping people with disabilities understand candidates' positions on the
issues. If you or your organization is interested in doing one of these
activities or if you have another idea that needs funding, contact John
Shaw at the Council at 608/266-7707 or by email at shawj2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(Contributed by: DAWN)
==================================================
Alert: Governor's Budget Proposal
Gov. Jim Doyle delivered his 2007-2009 budget address to the legislature
on Tuesday, January 13, 2007. His proposal included many items to aid
families and children. Disability advocates are still looking at the
details of the budget. The following is a brief list of some of the
items that we know are included:
- Increases special education funding by $54 million;
- Increases funding for the SAGE program to keep class sizes small;
- Increases funding for the school breakfast program;
- Expands 4-year-old kindergarten;
- Increases funding for transportation assistance to rural schools;
- Provides Medicaid coverage to youth aging out of foster care;
- Exempts the caretaker of a new born infant from W-2 work requirements
during the first six months;
- Provides funding and exempts a mother with an at-risk-pregnancy from
W-2 work requirements during the last trimester;
- Increases funding for child care under W-2 and establishes a 5-star
rating system of day cares to better assess care quality;
- Creates BadgerCare Plus to provide health insurance for virtually
every child in the state;
- Makes available $2 million to agencies that provide housing assistance;
- Captures more federal funds for DVR to ensure no waiting for services;
- Provides for an independent legal advocate for people enrolled in
Family Care;
- Creates a Dept. of Children and Family Services.
Disability advocates will continue to examine the budget and its affect
on people with disabilities. As more information is obtained, DAWN will
deliver it to you.
The budget proposal is available on the Internet at:
http://www.doa.state.wi.us/debf/execbudget.asp
(Contributed by: DAWN)
==================================================
Alert: Budget Information
Just in time for the budget hearings that start next week around the
state are two documents. Both can be found on the DAWN web site under
"State Budget" at: <http://www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/budget.cfm>. The
budget bill is Senate Bill 40.
The first is a comprehensive issue summary by department of the items
that are disability related. It can be found at:
<http://www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/budget/07_09_budget_compare.cfm>.
The other document is the budget position paper of the Survival
Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations. This paper emphasizes
community as the place for people with disabilities to live. It targets
six areas that the budget should address. It can be found at:
<http://www.dawninfo.org/co/sc/2007/Budget_paper2007.pdf>.
Both of these documents provide excellent background material for
comments that you might want to make to the Joint Finance Committee
about the proposed budget. Comments can be made at one of the hearings
or by contacting a member of the Committee. A list of the Committee members
can be found at: <http://www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/jfc_members.cfm>.
(Contributed by: DAWN)
==================================================
Mar 20-Apr 12: Joint Finance Committee Budget Hearings Locations
Over two weeks ago the Joint Finance Committee announced the dates and
cities for their hearings on the state budget. At that time they did not
announce the locations for the hearings. The following is a complete
list of the dates and locations for the hearings.
* Tuesday, March 20, 2007 from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm at the UW-Milwaukee
Student Union,Wisconsin Room, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee.
* Wednesday, March 21, 2007 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Arlington
Agricultural Research Station Public Events Facility, N695 Hopkins Rd.,
Arlington.
* Tuesday, March 27, 2007 from Noon to 5:00 pm at the Chippewa Falls
County Courthouse, Assembly Room, 711 N. Bridge St., Chippewa Falls.
* Wednesday, April 4, 2007 from Noon to 5:00 pm at the Prairie du Chien
High School Auditorium, 800 E. Crawford St., Prairie du Chien.
* Wednesday, April 11, 2007 from Noon to 5:00 pm at the Nicolet College
Learning Resource Center Theatre, 5634 College Dr., Rhinelander.
* Thursday, April 12, 2007 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the National
Railroad Museum Lenfestey Center, 2285 South Broadway, Green Bay.
These hearings offer you the opportunity to express your opinion about
the proposed budget. If you attend a hearing, you do not have to speak.
You can submit a prepared written statement or fill out an attendance
card with your comments. You can also send comments to the Chairpersons
of the Committee. For a complete list of the Committee members go to
the DAWN web site at: http://www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/jfc_members.cfm
Disability advocates are finishing up their analysis of the budget for
disability related items. That information should be available within a
week and will be posted to the DAWN budget web site at:
http://www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/budget.cfm
To find out who your legislators are go to: http://waml.legis.state.wi.us/
(Contributed by: DAWN)
==================================================
Apr 2, 4, 5, 9: Sen. Feingold Listening Sessions
Alert: Sen. Feingold Listening Sessions
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold will hold listening sessions in Lincoln,
Marathon, Vernon, Crawford, Sheboygan, Iowa and Lafayette Counties in
early April. Senator Feingold has pledged to hold listening sessions in
all of Wisconsin's 72 counties each year of his six-year term. If
constituents need special accommodations at the listening sessions they
should contact Senator Feingold's Middleton office at 608-828-1200.
Listening Sessions on Monday, April 2, 2007:
His Lincoln County listening session will be held at 9:45 a.m. at the
Bradley Town Hall, 1518 W Mohawk Dr., Tomahawk.
His Marathon County listening session will be held at 12:15 p.m. at the
Marathon Municipal Center, 311 Walnut St., Marathon City.
Listening Sessions on Wednesday, April 4, 2007:
His Vernon County listening session will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the
American Legion, 503 Walnut St., Genoa.
His Crawford County listening session will be held at 12:45 p.m. at the
Wauzeka Village Hall, 213 E Front St., Wauzeka.
Listening Sessions on Thursday, April 5, 2007:
His Sheboygan County listening session will be held at 1:30 p.m. at
Wilson Town Hall, 5933 S Business Dr., Sheboygan.
Listening Sessions on Monday, April 9, 2007:
His Iowa County listening session will be held at 8:30 a.m. at the
Linden Municipal Building, 444 Jefferson St., Linden.
His Lafayette County listening session will be held at 11:15 a.m. at the
South Wayne Fire Station & Village Hall, 107 E Center St., South Wayne.
Each session will last up to one hour. These meetings allow you the
opportunity to express your views to the Senator on federal issues such
as IDEA, MiCASA, Family Opportunity Act, Rehabilitation Act, housing,
health care, voting and campaign finance reform.
For more information on federal issues, check the DAWN website on
national disability issues at:
<http://www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/national.cfm>
More information about Sen. Feingold's listening sessions (in both
English and Spanish) can be found on his web site:
English: <http://feingold.senate.gov/listening/index.html>
Spanish: <http://feingold.senate.gov/espanol/listening_map_sp.html>
(Contributed by: DAWN)
==================================================
Apr 11: 1st Self-Directed Services Info Meeting
Alert: SDS Informational Meetings
Coming soon to a neighborhood near you are Self-Directed Services (SDS)
informational meetings!
Family Care is expanding throughout Wisconsin. Self-Directed Services or
SDS is an exciting part of Family Care. In SDS, people have control of
their lives and choose their own services. The Self-Determination
Wisconsin project is presenting a series of informational meetings about
SDS. The meetings are for people who get long term care services, their
families, service providers, advocates, and others who want to learn
more about SDS.
The first session will be in Kenosha on Wednesday, April 11, 2007. Most
will happen in May. To see a complete schedule of the meetings, learn
more about them, and to obtain a registration form, go to:
http://www.wcdd.org/whoweare/2007_events/sds.cfm
The Self-Determination Wisconsin project is part of the Wisconsin
Council on Developmental Disabilities' current five-year State Plan. To
read more about this part of the plan go to:
http://www.wcdd.org/07stateplan/self_determination.cfm
(Contributed by: DAWN)
==================================================
==================================================
Leslie Riggs
WADNet Post Editor & Listserv Administrator
Wisconsin Association of the Deaf
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