KENTUCKY KIDS NEED YOUR HELP!

Please take action now! Legislation has emerged late in the current session of the General Assembly that would: 

• endanger early education with cuts that could eliminate Kindergarten aides, increase class sizes and lower requirements for preschool teachers
• recreate barriers to health care for eligible children by reinstating face-to-face interviews for Medicaid and KCHIP enrollment
• reduce overall funding for education and other vital services  

Kentucky's Medicaid budget has a projected shortfall of $166.5 million for the current fiscal year. The House passed HB 305, which would close the gap by moving money forward from the next fiscal year, and balancing next year's budget with anticipated cost savings, including managed care.  On Wednesday, the Senate passed a different version of HB 305 that included broad-based cuts across state government for the remaining months of the current budget year as well as 2012 to make up the Medicaid shortfall.  Since the two proposals vary so much, a conference committee will be appointed to work on a compromise.

The Senate version of the bill has the potential to significantly impact early childhood education in Kentucky as well as children's health care access.

Take Action!

Please call the message line TODAY at 1-800-372-7181 and ask to leave a message for these members of the conference committee on HB 305.  Sample message text is provided below the list: 

Greg Stumbo, House Speaker

Larry Clark, Speaker Pro Tem

Rocky Adkins, Majority Floor Leader

Robert Damron, Majority Caucus Chairman

Tommy Thompson, Majority Whip

Jeff Hoover, Minority Floor Leader

Bob DeWeese, Minority Caucus Chairman

Danny Ford, Minority Whip

Rick Rand, Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chair

Message Text
"Please do not support the kindergarten and preschool exemptions in the Senate version of HB 305, which would reduce the quality of early childhood education programs in Kentucky. In addition, do not reinstitute the face-to-face interview requirement for Medicaid eligibility, which is proven to make eligible children drop their health coverage.  These cuts and changes will not only harm our children and families today, but well into the future." 

Your help is needed TODAY!  Call 1-800-372-7181 and tell them the Senate version of HB 305 is unacceptable.  And don't forget to forward this alert to your network!