PCPA’s Legislative Affairs Committee (LAC) held a Targeted Bill Action day Tuesday at the Capitol. Community providers from across the state delivered a box (containing 11 cookies) of The Provider’s Dozen cookies to the Harrisburg offices of all state senators and selected members of House leadership. Indication is that the event was a success, garnering attention for both the provider community and the long-term funding legislation. However, key legislators and legislative staffers had one resounding message: keep up the pressure!
What
was The Provider’s Dozen?
Most pastries and baked goods are sold or dispensed by the dozen. In fact,
many bakeries and caterers even offer the “baker’s dozen”
for their wares, saying that one additional item (bringing the total of the
"dozen" to 13) is better. While community providers of mental health/mental
retardation/drug and alcohol services (MH/MR/D&A) would also like to subscribe
to this school of thought, our story is much different. Our reality is that
we have "the provider’s dozen" – our box is missing
something to make it complete…and that something is stable and reliable
program funding.
The Provider’s Dozen was a symbol for the MH/MR/D&A system’s lack of proper funding. Accompanying delivery of the cookies was supporting information for voting "yea" on House Bill 1813 (inflationary index for MH/MR) and House Bill 1649 (dedicated alcohol tax for D&A). While the respective Senate versions – Senate Bill 1006 (inflationary index) and Senate Bill 727 (dedicated alcohol tax) – are still important pieces of legislation, having the Senate pass the House versions at this time in the legislative session would require less steps in the legislative process to have the bills become law.
How
You can Make Legislative Contacts
If you were unable to participate in Tuesday’s event (either at the
Capitol or from the district), please call your senator’s office today
to follow up. Tie your conversation back to the cookie delivery ("Did
you or your Harrisburg office [whichever is appropriate for your call] receive
your box of The Provider’s Dozen cookies yesterday? As a community
provider in your district, I am calling to follow up…").
The LAC also needs every member to write a letter of support letter for long-term funding legislation and fax it to your senator immediately. Please also send a copy to your state representative as well, urging that s/he vote for the bill again should it come back to the House with any Senate amendments. While personalized letters to legislators receive much more attention and consideration than form letters, a copy of the letter recently sent to the legislature from the LAC chairs is attached for your convenience. Copies of the "cookie information" and talking points for the inflationary index legislation and dedicated alcohol tax are also attached.
For
Further Information
Please contact Melissa DiSanto Simmons,
director of legislative affairs, at the association with questions or concerns,
as well as to follow up with your contacts. Stay tuned to PCPA for updates.
