Disability Day at the Capitol -
Record Turnout
by Lance H. Hegland
A record turnout of over
300 people attended Disability Day at the Capitol, co-sponsored
by Arc of Minnesota, Advocating Change Together, Brain Injury Association
of Minnesota, PACER Center, People First of Minnesota and United
Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota.
During the event, Steve
Larson, Executive Director for Arc of Minnesota, called on state
legislators to review the impact of budget decisions made in 2003
and 2004 on supports for people with developmental disabilities
and their families ... read
more about disability day >
Governor Proposes Cuts to Health
Care and Community Services
by Anne L. Henry
Governor Pawlenty has proposed
to eliminate MinnesotaCare for adults without children and to continue
to limit the number of persons who can access home and community
waiver programs to avoid institutional care as part of his budget
for the next two years. Also, the Governor did not fund any cost-of-living
(COLA) increase for home and community services programs and staff,
although nursing facilities would receive a 2 percent increase. In
addition, none of the harmful health care cuts imposed in 2003, such
as co-payments, the $500 annual limit on dental care, the $125 per
month cut for low-income families with SSI and the steep parent fee
increases, were remedied in the Governor’s proposed budget
... read
more about the proposed cuts >
