ASA-ASO Action Alert: Action needed on American Reinvestment and Recovery Act

[Guest guest]

Dear ASA-ASO Ohio Autism Advocates:

Governor Strickland has issued his budget and overall it could be viewed as favorable for individuals with autism and developmental disabilites - Medicaid is held harmless, increased funding for schools, and family resource monies essentially remain in tact. However, it relies very heavily on the Federal Economic Stimulus Package that passed in the House but is currently up for debate in the Senate.

What specific provisions in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (HR 1) are most critical for individuals and families affected by developmental disabilities? The short answer is all of it. We need the health care information funding, infrastructure spending, energy investments, the direct aid to states and local governments, the increases in FMAP, the education funding, including for special education.

If you would like specific details about the bill, click here, or go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and search on HR 1.

If you support this position, please act and ask Senator Voinovich either by phone or email (see contact information below) to:

Support the inclusion of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund in the Economic Recovery Package. Ohio needs your commitment to a package of economic recovery strategies aimed at protecting and promoting the health, safety and well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities and helping Ohio's most vulnerable families during this period of economic distress. If this bill does not pass, Ohio will have to cut $3.4 billion in state programs over the next two years.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Barbara C. YavorcikExecutive DirectorAutism Society of America - Autism Society of Ohio Chapter701 S. Main St.Akron, OH 44311(330) 376-0211fax: (330) 376-1226email: askASO@...home: byavorcik@...web: www.autismohio.org

CALL TO ACTIONOHIO NEEDS FEDERAL FISCAL RELIEF DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 6, 2009

Please contact Senator Voinovich and encourage him to include the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund in the Economic Recovery Package. If Congress does not pass the federal Recovery bill Ohio will have to cut $3.4 billion in state programs over the next two years. The debate is likely to be concluded by the end of the week, so it is very important that you contact his office immediately. Call or email Senator Voinovich at the following office: U.S. Senator Voinovich: 202-224-3353 Mikolajewski: angela_mikolajewski@... or Steve Kettredge steve_kettredge@... Tell Senator Voinovich that: Ohio needs his commitment to a package of economic recovery strategies aimed at protecting and promoting the health, safety and well-being of children and helping Ohio's most vulnerable families during this period of economic distress. Passage of this bill will provide increased IV-E FMAP, Medicaid FMAP, TANF funds, education funds and more. Ohio's unemployment rate is nearly 8 percent - the highest it has been in 25 years. More unemployment means more jobless people, more people without health care and an increase in the number of children in need. The federal stimulus bill needs to be multi-pronged, and this portion of the bill is critical for our health care and education programs from early childhood thru college and vulnerable citizens needing safety net services and maintaining a robust group of willing Medicaid providers. States are feeling the pinch of the recession. The slowdown in revenues and the increased need for economic supports will force the state's leaders to make more difficult choices in the months ahead. Ohioans need this infusion of federal funds for budget stabilization.

Tips for making phone calls

Clearly state your name and where you live.

Be prepared to make your point in several sentences.

The staff member answering the phone is making brief notes about the subject of your call and your opinion.

Ask for a response that includes the elected official's position.

Realize that the staff member answering phones may have been instructed not to make detailed comments about the issues; this is done in letters so that elected official's position is not misrepresented.

Follow up with a letter if possible. Mail, fax or e-mail it to the legislator's office.

Effective E-mail Techniques

Make sure to address the elected official and your correspondence correctly. All members of Congress and the General Assembly, as well as the Governor and the President, may be addressed as "The Honorable First Name, Last Name" followed by their address. Senators, both state and U.S., are addressed as Dear Senator Last Name." Representatives, both state and U.S. are addressed as Dear Representative Last Name." State who you are and where you live in the first paragraph so it is clear that you are a constituent. Make sure that you state any credentials, for example being a member of an organization or institution that would make you particularly credible on a particular issue. For instance, if you work or volunteer at an organization with experience on your issue, say so in the your letter or E-mail. It means that you have first hand experience and knowledge about the subject that the legislator may not have. At minimum you have credentials because you live in that official's district and you have an opinion. Tie the issue to the larger needs of the community. Make the long-term benefits to large groups of people known. Ask for a response letter or e-mail stating the elected official's position. Include your name, street address, e-mail address and a phone number with area code.For more information, contact:Sandy Erb- (serbwilson@... ) Voices for Ohio's Children www.vfc-oh.org

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