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| Posted
March 18, 2002 (HB1102 Update) |
HB 1102, which
includes the budget appropriations for the Missouri Commission for
the Deaf, was not discussed at today’s meetings of the House Budget
Committee. MCD staff has been told that the Budget Committee will
not return to their mark-up of HB 1102 until Monday or Tuesday of
next week.
Currently, the House Budget Committee is scheduled to hold an
executive session on Monday (3/18/02) starting at 10:00 a.m. in
Hearing Room # 3. In addition, it is scheduled for an executive
session that evening upon evening adjournment (which probably will
be around 6:00 p.m.) and again on Tuesday upon morning adjournment
(around 12:30 p.m.). We have no way of knowing when the MCD budget
will be discussed at these meetings.
The question has recently been raised with the MCD staff as to what
it is that people can do to support the MCD budget efforts who might
not have the technology to send e-mails or faxes, or might not have
the time to call or write their legislators. Another way that people
can express support is by circulating and/or signing petitions that
can later be presented to legislators considering the MCD budget.
Signing a petition does not require much time, and it does
not require that the person be knowledgeable about sending e-mail.
If anyone wants to begin a petition drive in his or her local area,
MCD would be happy to assist in drafting the language of the
petition (if desired).
At minimum, any petition should be addressed to “Honorable Members
of the Missouri General Assembly” or "Honorable Representatives and
Senators" so that the petition may be presented either immediately
to the members of the House Budget Committee, or later read on the
House floor, or later presented to the members of the Senate
Appropriations Committee when they consider HB 1102, or later read
on the Senate floor. And if a person is thinking far in advance,
they might at the same time ask for signatures on a petition
addressed to “The Honorable Governor Bob Holden” in case HB 1102
should ever go to the Governor for his signature and still include
the MCD budget cuts.
For those persons who do have the time to write, another way of
bringing this matter to the attention of all members of the
legislature is to start contacting your local media and discussing
this issue. Letters to the editor of your local newspaper, or calls
to your local radio or TV station, can be effective ways to bring
this issue to the attention of other people (deaf, hard of hearing,
and hearing) and ask for their support. If you need help finding the
telephone number or e-mail address of your local newspaper, radio or
TV station, contact MCD and we will do what we can to be of
assistance.
The MCD staff did receive a promise today from a representative on
the House Budget Committee that he/she would introduce an amendment
in executive session to restore the MCD core budget cuts. This does
not, of course, guarantee that the committee will vote to accept
that amendment. However, it is clear that the telephone calls,
faxes, and e-mails regarding this issue are being noticed by the
members of the House Budget Committee. I would again ask that if you
send an e-mail or fax to a legislator regarding this matter, please
send a copy to MCD for our information purposes. |
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This
report is being posted by the Missouri Commission for the Deaf
for your information purposes.
3-14-02 |
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