Attend the Hearings
Our bill is the subject of hearings in both the State Senate Finance Committee and House Health & Government Affairs Committee next Wednesday, March 9. The committee leaders recognize that families want to come to Annapolis to participate in these hearings, so they scheduled both on the same day and agreed to ensure they happen at different times in the day. This will give us the maximum chance to be part of the process. Let's reward this thoughtfulness with a great turnout!
The order of events in each committtee isn't decided until the day of the hearing and both meetings are scheduled to start at 1pm. So it will be a little tricky knowing when we'll need to be where. The plan is for everyone to meet in the lobby of the House building before 1pm and get instructions from the committee staff by cell phone telling the group where to go next. More detailed directions to the lobby and the hearing rooms will come out next week. I'll post them on the POAC listserv.
Make Sure You've Contacted Your Senator and Delegate
We're hearing some members of the committees have not yet been contacted by their constituents about how important this bill is. This 'personal touch' is the most important, effective lobbying families can do. The ideal action is to call your Senator or Delegate first. You'll probably just get to leave a quick message of support with a staff person, but in this age of mass e-mail bombs, a phone call makes an impact. Then send an e-mail too, mentioning that you are following-up on your earlier call. If you don't have time to do both things, please try to one or the other. The most important thing is that every Senator and Delegate hears from families in their district. Absolutely key are the committee members (listed at the bottom of this post) so if one of these folks represents you, your call and e-mail are EXTRA important. If you don't live in a committee member's district (I don't) encourage someone you know who lives there to make the call.
POAC Testimony
I plan to turn my last post on the cost savings associated with autism insurance into POAC's written testimony to the committees. That means I need to be down in Annapolis two hours before the hearings start (11 am) to turn in 35 copies to the staff. It leaves a nice window to grab some lunch and come back for the hearings at 1. If anyone wants to ride down early with me, lunch is my treat.
What Success Will Look Like
The clouds won't part and Autism Insurance descend from the clouds next Wednesday. The hearings just inform the committee members of the merits of the bill so they can refer it for further action. So, unglamorous as it may sound, our big win will be for the bills to be referred to sub-committees for further discussion and revision. That means the bills can come back to the committees for votes later this session. No referral, no more action this year. It will look like an obscure procedural step, but it is important.
Next Coalition Call
The Coalition is meeting by phone again Monday, 3/7, at noon to continue preparing for the hearings. If you can make time over lunch, please join us:
712-432-0800
Passcode: 1048802#
Thanks all!
Wil Gehne
Key Legislators to call, if you live in their district:
Senate Finance Committee Chair | Thomas M. Middleton | District 28 (D) | |
Senate Finance Committee Vice-Chair | John C. Astle | District 30 | Anne Arundel County |
Senate Finance Committee | District 15 | Montgomery County | |
Senate Finance Committee | District 35 | Harford County | |
Senate Finance Committee | District 10 | Baltimore County | |
Senate Finance Committee | District 9 | Carroll & Howard Counties | |
Senate Finance Committee | District 8 | Baltimore County | |
Senate Finance Committee | District 38 | Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester Counties | |
Senate Finance Committee | District 26 | Prince George's County | |
Senate Finance Committee | District 36 | Caroline, Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's Counties | |
Senate Finance Committee | District 40 | Baltimore City | |
House HGO Chair (Health and Gov Operations Cmt) | Peter A. Hammen | District 46 (D) | |
House HGO Vice-Chair | Shane E. Pendergrass | District 13 (D) | Howard Co. |
House HGO | |||
House HGO | DISTRICT 33B (Anne Arundel County) | ||
House HGO | DISTRICT 19 (Montgomery County) | ||
House HGO | DISTRICT 2C (Washington County) | ||
House HGO | DISTRICT 4B (Carroll & Frederick Counties) | ||
House HGO | DISTRICT 42 (Baltimore County) | ||
House HGO | DISTRICT 23A (Prince George's County) | ||
House HGO | |||
House HGO | |||
House HGO | DISTRICT 31 (Anne Arundel County) | ||
House HGO | DISTRICT 9B (Carroll County) | ||
House HGO | |||
House HGO | |||
House HGO | |||
House HGO | DISTRICT 10 (Baltimore County) | ||
House HGO | DISTRICT 41 (Baltimore City) | ||
House HGO | |||
House HGO | DISTRICT 5A (Carroll County) | ||
House HGO | |||
House HGO | DISTRICT 40 (Baltimore City) | ||
House HGO |
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