Help
us thank Legislators for their support and ask that they protect the pay
increase set for July 1, 2002:
Join us at the State Capitol on Thursday, March 7
Last year, OP staff
joined hundreds of others direct care workers throughout Minnesota in
educating state legislators about the need for a cost-of-living increase
for our industry. In face-to-face meetings with legislators, phone calls,
and letters, OP staff showed why the State of Minnesota needed to increase
the reimbursement rate.
Working in coalition with the Association for Residential Resources in
Minnesota (ARRM), The Minnesota Habilitation Coalition, MNDACA, and other
groups, OP staff achieved success when the Legislature approved a rate
increase that funded a pay raise for direct care staff.
The Ventura administration and legislators this year are wrestling with
how to erases the state's projected $1.95 billion shortfall. Legislative
leaders, Gov. Ventura and his top aides are looking at several options
to balance the budget, including tax increases, using tobacco money, using
the reserves, and making spending cuts.
Among the options for cuts are items that were approved by legislators
last session, but not yet spent. One area that might be cut is the
rate increase or "COLA" (Cost of Living Allowance) that our
industry is scheduled to receive on July 1, 2002. If the COLA is cut,
Opportunity Partners and other agencies that provide services to people
with disabilities won't be able to increase the pay of direct care staff.
Opportunity Partners' Government Affairs Committee asks
for your help in educating Minnesota legislators about the urgent need
to protect the pay increase for direct care staff in the following ways:
Please take a look at the information below and see if you can help
this effort by attending the March 7 Day at the Capitol, and/or, by writing
or calling your legislator.
ARRM Day
At the Capitol
Thursday, March 7, 2002
What Is it? Direct care staff from across the state go to the capitol for a rally and then meet individually with State Legislators to thank them for the rate increase passed last which increased wages for direct care staff. Staff will also be urging legislators not to cut the rate increase as a way of balancing the projected state budget deficit.
Is this just for
Residential Staff?
No. The rate increase covers a variety of direct care staff in day programs
as well as residential services. Many OP staff who work in non-residential
services have participate each year in ARRM Day at the Capitol.
What's the Schedule
for the Event?
ARRM will have a kick-off rally, from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at the Kelly
Inn Hotel. (Marion Street Exit off of I-94 in St. Paul,) After that, people
will head up to the Capitol and State office Building (where legislators
office and meet) to meet with legislators. Note: You can also schedule
your meeting with legislators before the 10 a.m. ARRM rally. OP will
also have a hospitality room in the State Office Building, Room 300 South,
from 12:30 - 3 p.m. Stop in for some refreshments, to get directions
and talk with other staff about their visits with legislators.
How do I arrange
a meeting with a legislator?
Just call their office, tell the receptionist you live or work in the
legislator's district, you'll be at the Capitol on March 7 and would like
to meet with them.
How do I find out
who my legislators are?
Call 651-296-2146 or 1-800-657-3550
Or, use the Pioneer Press' "Political Machine" on their website:
www2.pioneerplanet.com/precinct/
Enter in your home or work address and it will tell you the names of your
State Representative and State Senator.
What Do I say when I meet with Legislators?
The best thing to do is to just explain in your own words, your own experiences
working in the field and why the pay increase need to be protected. ARRM
will also have a flyer with more information at the Rally at the Kelly
Inn.
Key points to make in phone calls, letters, or meetings with Legislators
Message for Legislators - As the legislature and administration work to balance the budget I'm grateful that House and Senate leaders have said that cutting funding for nursing homes and programs serving people with disabilities is not an option. (If your representative is a Republican you should mention that Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum has made this commitment.)
Message for the Governor - Thank you for supporting the COLA for direct care staff who provide services to people with disabilities. Cutting this funding would only deepen the staffing crisis. (Mention what the COLA means to you.) I appreciate your decision not to balance the budget by hurting the programs and people who serve our most vulnerable citizens.