MHANYS - Friday Fax

Legislative Update: Despite the fact that a budget has been passed and legislators are busy running for re-election, there is still a lot of action in Albany regarding public policy issues.

Among the priorities that we have been working on during this off-session include continued action on Timothy’s Law with a rally planned to take place at the Capitol on November 18th (details follow). I was the chair of the Parity Coalition (before it was called Timothy’s Law) several years ago and now, coming back into the advocacy world five years later, I am very impressed with the progress that has been made by the stakeholders in raising public awareness of the issue. This has been a tireless struggle for many, but one in which there is great commitment from the O’Clairs, MHANYS and many other organizations. We remain resolute in our commitment to pass Timothy’s Law. That is one of the reasons why it is so important to have great participation in the rally on November 18th.

Another issue with potential of great impact to our members is the Governor’s recent veto of the legislature’s partial restoration of the ‘Aid to Localities’ portion of the budget. In response to the cuts, we are working in a coalition with several other mental health organizations. We will work with both houses to attempt to override the Governor’s veto of the Aid to Localities portion of the budget. A more detailed description of these cuts and a plan of action from the members of our coalition will be out within the next few weeks (see below).

The Assembly came back into session on September 20th, but did not override any of the Governor’s vetoes. We have enclosed an article from the Albany Times Union that details the failure to override the vetoes. However, both sides of the aisle will be back again before the New Year (the Senate is coming back on November 18th and 19th).

In the coming weeks, we will be continually updating you about other issues relevant to MHANYS including an update on PROS, Elimination of Solitary Confinement for Individuals with Mental Illness, the Medication Grant Program, Medication Accessibility, Housing and other issues of vital importance.

This week’s attachments are an article in the Albany Times Union detailing the Assembly’s Special Session Meeting on September 20 and a posting for a new director of the New York Mental Hygiene Institute.

Please feel free to provide us with any feedback or relevant articles that you would like to share.

Aid to Localities: As part of the Governor's budget vetoes last month was $4.5M the legislature had allocated to partially restore the $7.7M cut in the ‘Aid to Localities’ portion of the Governor’s Executive budget proposal in January.

MHANYS has joined a number of other mental health organizations in an attempt to restore this funding. Together, we have developed an action plan that consists of several components that will raise awareness of the problem with members of the legislature and the Governor and hopefully get them to act upon it. We hope that our actions will result in a restoration of this crucial funding.

Mental Health Voter Empowerment: Among other positive developments that have stemmed from increased attention being paid to electoral politics in this Presidential Election Year is a renewed commitment to the Mental Health Voter Empowerment Project (MHVEP). We have already sent out over 400 candidate questionnaires so that we can once again assemble our Voter Education Guide. In addition to this bi-annual occurrence, we are also working with organizations throughout the state to promote registration, education and “Get Out The Vote” activities. We will be attending the NYAPRS conference to register voters there and bring new membership to MHVEP. We also recently spoke to clubhouse participants at Clearview Center in Albany County.

In addition to these outreach campaigns, you may wish to check out our new, updated website. Visit us at www.mhanys.org/mhvep to find out what is happening in your area, to join MHVEP, to learn more about the project, and to find out how you can get involved. The website serves as an invaluable resource as we seek to reignite this essential program.

New York Mental Hygiene Institute Seeks Executive Director: The New York Mental Hygiene Institute is looking for a dynamic person to lead the agency. NYMHI is an Albany-based statewide 501(c)(3) not for-profit founded in 2000. The Executive Director is responsible for leadership, management and operation of the agency. The NY MHI promotes cutting edge research, training, and technical assistance and serves as a clearing house for New York’s mental hygiene community.

Strong written and verbal communication skills are necessary. Experience with grant writing and resource acquisition, contract management, public speaking and intergovernmental relations are high priorities for the position. Past success in agency development a plus.

Please send resume, cover letter and availability for full-time or part-time employment, no later than 9/30/2004, to MHIExecutiveDirector@clmhd.org. MHI is an equal opportunity employer.

RALLY FOR TIMOTHY’S LAW

NOVEMBER 18, 2004
1:00 Gathering at NYS Museum
1:30 Rally at NYS Capitol

Silver fails to rally an override. By James M. Odato
Albany Times Union, September 21, 2004

Albany -- Assembly falls one vote short in bid against Pataki's budget vetoes; speaker accuses governor of inducing some members to skip session

In a surprising setback for Speaker Sheldon Silver, the Democrat-led Assembly failed on Monday to override Gov. George Pataki's vetoes of the Legislature's budget.

Clearly angry, Silver charged that Pataki had twisted arms of key Assembly members to foil the override. He said Pataki had won just one round in a continuing fight and that the Democratic majority will ultimately prevail.

Pataki called Assembly members to "encourage them to be AWOL," Silver said. He accused the Republican governor of threatening GOP members with political retribution and of bribing Democrats with sweeteners if they joined the minority to block an override.

Indeed, Assembly Democrats Steve Kaufman and Carmen Arroyo of the Bronx and Ronald Tocci of New Rochelle never even made it to Albany, despite Silver's expectations. Silver said he was told Arroyo was in Florida and the others may have reported being ill.

And John Cahill, Pataki's top aide, met behind closed doors with Assembly Republicans several times during multiple private conferences on both sides of the aisle.

Before Silver called the Assembly back after a month away, he had been assured by enough of his 102-member conference that he had at least the 100 votes needed for an override, which requires the votes of two-thirds of the 150 Assembly members.

Assemblyman Joel Miller, R-Poughkeepsie, also had said Monday morning that he would break with his own conference to vote with Silver because he wanted hundreds of millions of dollars more for higher education, funds to keep Mount McGregor prison open and more spending on libraries.

But Miller said he was summoned to Pataki's office in the afternoon and was persuaded to see things the governor's way.

He said Pataki's aides told him that his needs will be met through a three-way agreement between the Senate, Assembly and governor, and that Senate Republicans did not want the Assembly to leave the issue hanging over their heads during this election season.

Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno's office did not respond to inquiries, but Bruno has said he will call his members back to session after the Nov. 2 election.

"This is the process of politics," Miller said. "This isn't the best picture. It's the making of sausage. ... This is the part you don't want the public to see."

The Assembly planned to override about 100 of Pataki's 195 vetoes, or all of the items that the Assembly passed before the Senate in August. A few attempts to override specific measures Monday failed along partisan lines. That allowed Democrats to put Republicans on record voting against bringing back money for social service programs, libraries and community colleges, and perhaps using the votes against the GOP in the upcoming elections, some majority members said.

"As he always does, the governor urged the members of the Assembly to vote based on principle," said Kevin Quinn, Pataki's spokesman.

After the Assembly broke at 9 p.m., Assembly Minority Leader Charles Nesbitt said his members chose to stick together to thwart the overrides in hopes of getting Silver to agree to cost-saving reforms, such as an overhaul of the Medicaid program. "Nobody wants to withdraw money from libraries. But we need to work that out within the framework of a balanced budget," Nesbitt said.

Silver's list of override targets included measures appropriating tens of millions of dollars for library funding and extra cash for school districts and governments, such as $1 million for Schenectady schools and $100,000 for the city of Saratoga Springs, and more than $5.5 million for community colleges.

He said he is committed to overcoming Pataki's $235 million in vetoes, leaving a $101.3 billion budget for this year. The speaker also wants to restore $1.6 billion in vetoed borrowing, largely for upgrades and construction at colleges.

The Assembly did repeal a law that authorized the state to collect speeding ticket revenues now kept by towns.

Pataki said the reversal, which will short the state $22 million, is one of a host of bad decisions made by the Assembly on Monday. As he blasted Silver for proposing to add to state debt and to harm state finances, he criticized the Assembly for not taking up other important legislation, such as fixing the death penalty law and other tough-on-crime measures.

"The revenue isn't there, the money isn't there," said Pataki, envisioning massive shortfalls if the Legislature's budget were to stand. "Somebody's got to be an adult here."

Silver responded that Pataki is the party exhibiting juvenile behavior. He said that if the governor had worked as hard on the budget as he has in raising money for President Bush's re-election, state finances would be in better shape.

Assemblyman Jose Rivera, Bronx Democratic chairman, said Kaufman and Arroyo displayed a lack of responsibility by failing to show up for work Monday. He said Kaufman had told him he would be there to join in the override.

"I feel embarrassed by this," he said. "Two members of the Bronx delegation are missing in action. Send them to Iraq!"

The three seemed easy targets for Pataki, members said. Kaufman had broken with Democrats to make an unsuccessful Senate primary bid as a Republican this month. Arroyo had joined Democrats for Pataki in 2000. And Tocci has shown a willingness to go against Silver in the past. A lame duck, he will retire from the Assembly at year's end.

Asked if Silver has egg on his face, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Westchester responded: "This is absolutely no criticism of his management. The governor reached out and played political hardball."

Until next time, we remain,
Working to ensure available and accessible
mental health services for all New Yorkers

Friday Fax from Albany

RALLY FOR TIMOTHY’S LAW

NOVEMBER 18, 2004 1:00 Gathering at NYS Museum 1:30 Rally at NYS Capitol

NOVEMBER 18, 2004
1:00 Gathering at NYS Museum
1:30 Rally at NYS Capitol