OK, so this session just started and I am already tired and frustrated. So many MN elected officials that win big in Minority communities neglect our issues when they get to the Capitol.
Last week in the House Government Operations Committee chaired by Rep Nelson voted to eliminate MN autism task force which is voluntary and has done so much good already. It delivered a one two punch against Somali autism families.
If you remember HF 2282 is written by Rep Norton – DFLer from Rochester and the queen of autism disparity. This bill wants to eliminate and dismantle MN Autism Task Force now rather than sunset in 2015. Norton wants to hand over all of the power and decisions about autism to MDH, DHS, MDE and DEED. These are the state agencies in charge of health including autism.
Keep in mind MDH can’t even follow simple CLAS (culturally and linguistically appropriate guidelines) in their website, phone line and has refused to look into autism research thus far. Rep Norton now want to give them more authority to screw autism families.
MDE while many of them well intentioned clearly is failing given the recent UMN autism study that stated majority autistic children in Minnesota are not getting diagnosed with autism until age five which is three years late. In other words, their Part C can’t even inform and educate parents to get early intervention and early diagnoses.
Rep Norton now wants to give them more authority to screw autism families.
DHS again while their leadership intentions are noble sucks (not a typo) at most things autism. They still have not even sent to CMS (Center for Medicaid and Medicare) the autism benefit law that passed almost a year ago. Currently, DHS discriminates against low income managed care kids because it denies ABA autism therapy while it approves wealthier mostly caucasian fee for services autism families.
Rep Norton now wants to give them more authority to screw autism families.
DEED – where shall I start, they can not even name one Somali autistic person they helped find employment even though they are the Department of Employment. The last ASD TF chair was from DEED and said she did not have time for this.
Rep Norton now wants to give more authority to screw autism families.
You see – these four state agencies have either failed or still continue to fail autism families. But who cares about that – let’s give them more unfunded mandate to fail us. All because Rep Norton can’t rest until
every minority autism family is silenced.
HF 2282 wants to eliminate, dismantle and take power and voice from parents passed through House Health and Policy committee today 3/14/2014 chaired by Rep. Liebling. Also, a DFLer and Rep Norton’s BFF. Oh and her side kick bully of all things minority – not just autism families, it turns out. Isn’t interesting in the ever progressive and sooo welcoming MN DFLer’s especially in the house keep delivering a one two punch against Somali autism families. Why do we keep voting for them? Think about it.
Nevertheless, while all of this can seem discouraging and overwhelming. Don’t get discouraged though because there is a way to win over this insanity through our votes. If we can learn to use our votes wisely and vote for those that not just say couple of Somali words in elections, but actually address our issues at the Capitol.
Rep Nelson, Rep Liebling and Rep Norton are all beatable this year. They have a large minority voters including many Somali autism families and relatives.
The good news is their partner in bad policy Rep Huntley who chairs Health Finance in the House is retiring this year. Thank God. Huntley is an interesting character, it is difficult to understand why he votes with them or even allows stupid legislations by Rep Norton in his committee. If you see him, he looks like the White version of Nelson Mandela. He is quite, low key and very smart. Yet he always sides with the insane state legislators.
Remember when you were young and you had a baby sitter that let you eat ice cream and cookies for dinner and let you do whatever, and not tell your parents. Well – Rep Huntley is like that he just lets the insane DFL legislators run wild and bring silly and needless bills into his committee.
Anyway, It is sad after having the gavel for years in the most important health committee – he leaves at a time that minority health is the worst in Minnesota. I wish he practiced a little more cautious and restraint and told Norton or Liebling NO once in a while.
Finally, If you live or are running or want to run in the following districts in Minnesota – please let us know. We in the Somali autism community are tired of legislators that take our votes for granted.
District 40A is now held by Rep Michael Nelson, a DFLer has 52.5% minority and 30.3% African American. I think anyone of color can probably beat him.
District 26A is now held by Rep Tina Liebling, a DFLer has 21% minority – 14% are Black and Latino. I think anyone can also win here. She is not effective and even bullies members of her committee and sometimes public testifiers.
Last, but hopefully the first to defeat is Rep. Norton, a DFLer only has 15% minority and only 5% Black. But her bad policies have affected all minority autism families in Minnesota. We are hoping a Somali can challenge her soon. In 2012 election, Norton won by 3144 votes over GOP, Melissa Valeriano. If there is a will – there is a way in this case. Plus, the last legislator that was against MN Autism Task committee was Sen Lynch and we defeated her.
One interesting comparison – all four Minnesota Minority Councils were criticized by a legislative report. I wonder if Rep Norton will now write a bill to dismantle them too since dismantling and eliminating is her forte. Here is that story:
On a related note, Rep Moran the only African American in this committee who should really be standing up for us was not present. Nor was Rep Diane Loeffler who represents NE Mpls which has lots of Somalis. I wish they came and spoke for their constituents rather than allow Norton and her side kick bully Liebling bully our families. It will interesting to see how they vote on the House floor which is a roll call and records how they all vote. Again, we need to watch their votes, not because they learned how to say MAHADSANID OR GALAB WANAAGSAN.
If this was not true, it would be funny given these same legislators themselves are creating their own task forces and committees, such as HF 2932 by Rep Liebling.
HF 1897 by Rep Liebling.
HF 0523 by Rep Liebling decreased disability council members, (I wonder what she has against people with disabilities) but not eliminate as she wants for the Autism committee. unnnhhh interesting!
Thanks!
Above words do not represent any committee, agency or candidate.
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate