Dear Action Team Members,
There are two appropriations on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature which we have supported but which in the past he has line-itemed vetoed. It is important NOW to contact the governor and his staff to encourage his signing these two appropriations into law.
The first is $2,000,000 for LIHEAP (low income home energy assistance program) through the community action agencies, and the second is $7,000,000 to provide mental health services for children and others who are currently on long waiting lists. Details on both of these issues are below.
The families who need utility assistance and the families who need services for their children are among “the least of these” which our Lord has told us to care for. (Matthew 25:40) Please contact Governor Branstad in the next three days and encourage him to affirm what has been passed by the House and Senate. We need calls from all parts of the state.
Thank you for your faithfulness.
Legislative Advocacy Team
Brian Carter 515 979 5775 briancar@dwx.com
Rita Carter 515 979 0605 ritaac@mchsi.com
Walden Paige 641-750-7958 wbpaige@msn.com
William Steward 515-271-6837 whsteward@mediacombb.net
ACTION ALERT ON LIHEAP (information from Lana Ross, former Legislative Advocate for the United Methodist Church and current Executive Director of Iowa Community Action Association)
The time to act on LIHEAP is NOW!! The bill is SF2363 and the section related to LIHEAP is Division II Section 6.5. Details of this section of the bill are here:
SF 2363 -AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AND LOCAL FINANCES BY MAKING TRANSFERS AND APPROPRIATIONS, PROVIDING FOR PROPERLY RELATED MATTERS, AND INCLUDING EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICABILITY PROVISIONS
Division II- MISCELLANEOUS APPROPRIATIONS
Section 6 GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS -- FY 2013-2014
#5 -DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS - To supplement the appropriation made for the low-income home energy assistance program in 2013 Iowa Acts, chapter 136, section 10: . . $ 2,000,000
The Governor does have line item veto with this bill so he can veto this section and he might without hearing from us. We need to act now.
Within the next four days, please take a few minutes to contact the Governor . . . by writing/emailing Governor Branstad to support this section of SF2363. Please add stories if possible.
Households heating with propane are facing very low levels of propane in their tank due to the increased cost of propane when they needed to purchase so they have less as they prepare for next year. Households have very large balances past due because of the increased cost for heating and the longevity of the winter.
Please submit letters by clicking here: https://governor.iowa.gov/constituent-services/register-opinion Also, send email to DHR Governor’s Liaison Ann Hughes: ann.hughes@iowa.gov and the DHR Director Son Wong San.Wong@iowa.gov You may also call the governor at: 515-281-5211.
If you have questions, you may contact any of the Legislative Advocates.
ACTION ALERT ON REDUCING WAITING LIST OF HOME HEALTH CARE WAIVERS. HF 2463
(some of this information comes from “Parents Creating Change in Iowa”)
The Iowa Legislature approved $7 million to go towards reducing the waiting list of home health care waivers, including the Children's Mental Health Waiver, which provides essential services to children with serious mental illness [The Health and Human Services Budget (House File 2463)].
Please contact Governor Branstad right away and tell him why it is important that he approves this line of the budget this year. The waiting list is now over two years long and includes 7,000 people. The $7 million will reduce the waiting by about half. While the $7 million does not eliminate the waiting list, it is helpful. If the governor were to veto this line item as he did last year, it will just make the waiting list even longer.
Parents Creating Change asks: “Do you really want our children with serious mental health conditions waiting for up to 2-3 years for treatment that we know works? Let's give these children an opportunity for a successful future. Timely, appropriate treatment may prevent future incarceration, unemployment, and homelessness.”
Call, write, fax, or e-mail the Governor now! Tell him to please approve the buy down of the Children's Mental Health Waiver waiting lists. Ask him to approve the $7 million aimed at reducing the waiting list of home health care waivers found in House File 2463.
Governor Branstad
1007 East Grand Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Phone: 515.281.5211
Fax: 515.725.3527
https://governor.iowa.gov/constituent-services/register-opinion
Contact his advisor as well: Michael.Bousselot@iowa.gov
Again, thank you for your help with caring for “the least of these.” If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact any member of the Legislative Advocacy Team.