ADDP NEW BANNER 2011
Charlie Baker Returns State to Familiar Setting

Key Disability Issues For Governor-Elect Baker to Consider

 

Eight weeks after taking office in January, Governor Elect Charlie Baker will be expected to submit an FY 16 Budget for the Legislature's consideration.

 

 

Here's what we'll ask him to endorse over FY 15 levels:
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Keeping Families Together

by Supporting Increased Funding for:
  • DDS Family Support & Respite Services adding $10 million
  • DESE-DDS to help kids live at home and succeed at school adding $2 million

Promote Work & Self Sufficiency

by Supporting increased Funding for:
  • Day & Employment Services to help people earn a living & have a meaningful day adding $6.1 million
  • Turning 22 Programs to see that over 900 graduating students have adult services adding $3.5 million

Address the Needs of Kids and Adults with Autism

  • Support the Kids Autism Waiver to promote early intervention success adding $3 million
  • Fund Autism Adult Community Services promised by the 2014 Autism Omnibus Bill adding $5 million

Full Compliance with Chapter 257

  •  Establish two reviews
  • Fully fund
Voters Return Trust to Divided Government

 

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For the most part in yesterday's election, Massachusetts voters reflected their electoral habits of the last twenty years by returning most House and Senate members to their seats, ensuring overwhelming Democratic majorities in the General Court, but also placing a check on that power by electing Republican Charlie Baker to the Governor's office.

Returning to the bipartisan years of William Weld, Paul Cellucci, Jane Swift and perhaps even Mitt Romney may have provided comfort for voters more willing to go "Back to The Future" with divided government than extending the Democratic hold on all state constitutional offices.

Those who worked with Governor Elect Charlie Baker in the past expect him to be as different from national Republicans as he promised and equally sensitive to the need to forge an effective bi-partisan working relationship with incoming Senate President Stan Rosenberg and House Speaker Bob DeLeo.

For those focused on issues pertaining to the disability community Baker is a known and comfortable partner.  During the campaign he expressed strong support for full implementation of Chapter 257 and is expected to be sympathetic to the progress made under Governor Deval Patrick regarding Community First Initiatives, Disability Employment Reform and further support of Family Support efforts.

Balancing that support against his reluctance to seek additional revenue will make the next four years interesting.

ADDP, the thousands of employees and the thousands of individuals served by our member programs extend our congratulations to the new Governor and look forward to working with and his Administration.