April 14th was a huge success!! Many thanks again to everyone who attended and everyone who worked to make the day a success.  It is important to remember that the legislative process is an ongoing process so there is always something everyone can do to help.  The House budget will begin to be discussed on Monday, April 27th.  Below is an important “NEXT STEP”. 

THERE IS STILL TIME!!!

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR REPS BEFORE APRIL 24th!  Ask them to go to the clerk’s office or email rep Scibak’s aide Eve Wilder at and volunteer to cosign Rep Scibak’s amendment # 382 to the House budget to restore the following line items back to the entire $623,000 before the budget cut.  Ask them to support him in discussion in the House of Representatives.

4125-0100 Operations of MCDHH
4125-0101 Retained Revenue
4125-0104 Interpreter Services Revolving Fund
4125-0102 Interpreter Services at State House

THESE LINE ITEMS COVER THE VITAL EMERGENCY INTERPRETER SERVICE

EVEN IF YOUR REP ALREADY SAID HE/SHE WOULD COSIGN only the following 8 people cosigned.  SO PLEASE REMIND YOUR REP!!

Matthew Patrick - Falmouth
Jennifer Callahan - Sutton
David Sullivan - Fall River
Peter Kocot - Northampton
Tom Sannicandro - Ashland
Sean Garballey - Arlington
William Lantigua - Lawrence
Theodore C. Speliotis of Danvers

****As of 4:00 today, Rep Joyce Spiliotis and Rep Anne Gobi had signed on as a result of our efforts!****

After the House finishes, the process will go on to the Senate.  It is time to start contacting the Senators to ask them to support an amendment to the MCDHH budget.  We should also be on alert for an announcement of a hearing soon about the House Budget.  PLEASE GO IF YOU POSSIBLY CAN!!! we had such a great turnout at the March 20th hearing and the April 14th event.  We need to keep ourselves visible.

IF you don’t know who your rep or Senator is, go to http://www.wheredoivotema.com and put in your home address.  It will tell you who your rep is.

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Nini Silver
Community Organizer
Disability Policy Consortium