Albany Update

Below is an update on the situation in Albany. I encourage you to continue making phone calls, writing emails and sending letters regarding the potential cuts to services for people with developmental disabilities. In addition, please encourage our legislators to continue to support Federal Medicaid funding. As we face this potential round of cuts, also keep in mind we will need to continue to advocate when they prepare to build the 2010-2011 budget that could also hold cuts to services for people with developmental disabilities. Thank you for advocating!

Update from Albany
RE: Deficit Reduction Plan
Monday, November 23 was another day without any evidence of progress regarding the Deficit Reduction Plan as legislators appear to position themselves to leave town for Thanksgiving. Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson delivered a brief report on DRP negotiations that emphasized that progress was, in fact, being made.

"Sampson noted that only about seven weeks remain until the Legislature will return to take up the question of the 2010-2011 budget. `Next year's going to be far worse," he said, referring to the need for sacrifice."
The Senate and Assembly will be back in session today, November 24.
ADVOCATES WORKED OVER THE WEEKEND WITH LEGISLATIVE STAFF ON A PROPOSAL TO OFFSET HARD SERVICE CUTS WITH ADDITIONAL federal revenue. The revenue proposal is generating strong interest in the Legislature. Further, there are some reports of the Governor tempering his resistance to this approach though his office is still against it.

This is an uphill battle but it is not letting up. On November 23, about 70 program participants and staff from counties in the Capital District (and from as far away as Chemung County and Suffolk County on Long Island) held a vigil in Albany.

Senator George Winner and Assemblyman Tom O'Mara stopped by to see constituents from Chemung's UCP affiliate in the Governor's reception area, "The War Room." In the Assembly Chamber, Assemblyman George Amedore came out to see a large contingent of his constituents from the Montgomery ARC.

Other legislators to speak to vigil participants included Senators John Flanagan, Brian Foley, Andrew Lanza, Tom Morahan and Eric Schniedeman, Liz Krueger, Neil Breslin, Suzi Oppenhiemer, Hugh Farley, Kemp Hannon and Democratic Senate Leader John Sampson.
However, barring extraordinary circumstances, organizers opted not to hold a vigil on Wednesday, November 25th, given the likelihood of minimal legislative activity on the day before Thanksgiving.

The next vigil tentatively scheduled following Thanksgiving for Monday afternoon, November 30th.