Update On Autism & MN House Legislature – 2014 Session – Corrected Post, Sorry!

I had to make a correction to this post because Abeler had two amendments that day for this bill and it was not posted correctly on the house research site. As a result, I had the wrong vote count which some of the legislatures got upset and rightfully so, and contacted me to correct my blog. As a result of my rookie mistake – I apologize to Rep Clark, Rep Loeffler and Rep Ward and I thank them for their vote to continue the autism committee in Minnesota. I think it takes guts and heart to break partisan vote and vote for your constituents because after all they are the ones who voted for you in the first place. These three ladies surely have guts and heart. In addition, there were other MN DFLers who also voted to keep this committee and we thank them very much as well! Autism is a medical condition affecting lots of children and adults and we must always remember that.

Therefore, below is the new adjusted and corrected post with the right vote count.

OK, so for this legislative session year – there are only two autism bills both by Rep Norton and both bills want to screw low income autism families and minority autism children. In this post, I will concentrate on the bill that wants to eliminate the cost free autism task force which has supported many Somalis and under-served autism children and their families.

HF 2402 from MN House of Reps version wants to eliminate the free autism task force that has state agencies, advocates, providers and parents. Luckily, Rep Abeler introduced an amendment to NOT eliminate and take that language from the HF 2402 which is the Health Policy Omnibus.

Below are the legislators who voted to keep this task force which has been very important to Somali autism community as well as those that voted to eliminate.

Rep Abeler’s Amendment was not adopted because we lost this battle 61 votes were for us and 70 votes were against autism families. I have put their name, their vote, their party and highlighted those that have higher Somali autism families and/or represent high minority districts or someone is running against them this year in 2014 election – which gives  Somali autism families a reason to help their opponent. Please pay attention to see if your district legislator is included in the NO’s and if you have a child, relative or a friend with autism – then don’t waste your next vote. By the same token, if your representative is in the YES list, be sure to call them and thank them for their support & remember to vote for them.

MN House Floor Vote On Monday May 5, 2014.

Those Who Voted YES To Keep The Minnesota Autism Task Force and To Support Somali Autism Children Were:

Abeler (R), Albright (R), Anderson, M. (R), Anderson, P. (R), Anderson S. (R), Barrett (R), Benson, M (R), Clark (D), Cornish (R), Daudt (R), Davids (R), Dean (R), Dehn (D), Dettmer (D), Fabian (R), Franson (R), Garofalo (R), Green (R), Gunther (R), Hackbarth (R), Hamilton (R), Holberg (R), Hoppe (R), Howe (R), Isaacson (D), Johnson, B. (R), Kelly (R), Kieffer (R), Kiel (R), Kresha (R), Lenczewski (D), Loeffler (D), Lohmer (R), Loon (R), Mack (R), McDonald (R), MnNamara (R), Metsa (D), Myhra (R), Newberger (R), Nornes (R), O’Driscoll (R), O’Neill (R), Petersburg (R), Pugh (R), Rosenthal (D), Sanders (R), Sawatzky (D), Schomacker (R), Scott, (R), Selcer (D), Swedzinski (R), Theis (R), Torkelson (R), Uglem (R), Urdahl (R), Ward J.A.(D), Wills (R), Woodard (R), Zellers (R), Zerwas (R),

We appreciate those that voted for equality rather partisan politics. Thanks!

Those Who Voted NO To Eliminate The MN Autism Task Force and Were Against Somali Autism Children Were: Voting for the same people is stupid because their policy doesn’t change.

Because the House and Senate did not agree on the whole bill, it now goes to a Conference Committee where they will negotiate. The House Conferees for this are; Mack, Liebling, Loeffler, Morgan & Halverson.