Dear Friends,
Disability funding remains at the forefront as state legislators and federal lawmakers negotiate spending priorities.
Passage of the Omnibus Policy Bill and the Health Omnibus Bill by the Minnesota Senate offers a fair indication of continued support for MOHR agencies, albeit still early in the process. I expect the full House will address its Omnibus bill this week. Neither the House nor the Senate version of the bill includes the cuts recommended by the Governor to reduce the absence and utilization factor. The $1 billion in cuts enacted at the beginning of the biennium created challenges for providers. Incorporating further cuts would be detrimental.
Until the session concludes and bills are passed, we will not be able to effectively assess the impact of policy changes related to access, cost-shifting, or new accountability and licensure regulations. Again, I will state that MOHR agencies implement ambitious standards, and we support appropriate efforts to ensure that funds reach those intended to be served.
Congress, on the other hand, is stymied as the administration has requested $350 billion to fund the Pentagon and military efforts. To absorb these funds, federal leaders are asking Congress to approve reductions or eliminations of domestic programs, including education, housing, SNAP, health, and social services. Such cuts, if enacted, will create dilemmas for state legislators in determining whether state funding is available to fill gaps left by federal funding cuts.
We are fortunate to have MOHR member agencies active in ANCOR and serving as members of the ANCOR PAC who are keeping a watchful eye on the federal budget movement. Letters and alerts were sent to Congress following testimony by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy to the House Ways and Means Committee and remarks made by CMS Administrator Oz suggesting the elimination of disability programs for family caregivers and community-based services.
Budgets reflect values, and I am optimistic that Congressional and state leaders will work to protect the infrastructure already in place for people with disabilities and their families in Minnesota.
As I leave you to write letters to constituents, I want to recognize TSE Employment Advisor Jessica Stejskal-Biever and TSE Chief Business Development Officer Jim Freeman (pictured below with TSE executive Lynne Megan) for leading an interactive session on inclusive employment at the national ANCOR meeting last week. Sharing expertise with agencies across the country is a good reminder to all of us that we are the custodians of rights for people with disabilities. Thank you, Jessica and Jim, for keeping Minnesota at the forefront of leadership.
Sincerely,
Robin
