Sen Eaton Sneaks in SF 2892 To Eliminate Cost Free Parent Empowered Autism Task Force

Ahhhh, I have such a huge headache from so many MN DFL politicians and their autism failed policies towards minority communities.

Sen Eaton who represents District 40 and has the following statistics for minorities over 14,600 Black, 3,500 Asian, 2,300 Hispanic, plus other minorities and total of over 52% minorities has just sneaked SF 2892 as an amendment today into health policy omnibus that eliminates state autism task force. Imagine that and even though Eaton did not have a competitor in 2012 and her next election is 2016 – she is completely beatable by anyone.

Eaton has the largest West Africans in the state including Liberians which if you follow autism international research has a large number of autistic children. Yet, Sen Eaton as usual for many MN DFLer’s has refused to acknowledge their pain and frustrations with autism.

The saddest of all is – if you read the health policy omnibus – there are tons of bills that create advisory committees and councils including some where they removed any sunset dates. In other words, MN DFLer’s in the house and senate created more committees, councils, eliminated expiration dates – yet have managed to DISMANTLE the autism one – digest that for a minute. Their reason – well we argue about autism. Are you kidding me. Who the heck does not argue about autism including at the Federal autism advisory committee. The difference is in other autism autism committees – members disagree on issues and policy, yet are able to share a cab or lunch. In Minnesota, if you are a minority person and God forbid you disagree with a MN DFLer – you are rude, dysfunctional, quit or be eliminated. Why is that – I wonder. What makes when “they” talk about policy – a debate and when we do it, an argument? Why the hypocrisy and inferior expectations of Black folks here. Interesting – ain’t it. I remember back in 2010 health conference committee when now Speaker Thissen told now Lt Governor and back then Sen Solon to come down of her high horse and walk on the ground. Yet, after that heated argument – no one in that committee called them dysfunctional and asked that committee to be eliminated. So, again why when I, as an African American autism mom disagree with MN DFL autism policies – it is rude and dysfunctional? 

Interesting in George Wallace segregation kind of way.

Minnesota has the largest Somali Americans in the country, Autism is the highest in their children and the party they mostly vote for just eliminated the only state autism committee while they increased all of the other committees. Think about that for a minute and your wasted vote.

As one Somali American autism mom said to me today – “the only power we have is our ability to vote them out”. Another Somali autism parent said, “they might have won this battle, but we will win the autism war because it is our children, our future and our life”.

I feel defeated today, but I know I have to get up tomorrow – roll up my sleeve and keep fighting for my son with autism and the thousands of other children like him in Minnesota.

So, what can we do now as a community that is being affected by this devastating disorder?

Well – as they say, it ain’t over until the fat lady sings. And, we will fight til the end which is when Gov Dayton signs all of the bills that come out of conference committees. This means bills still have to go through the floors and other committees.

I and other Somali parents will be on Somali TV and Radio to tell our story and educate our community about our options and to watch those
that vote against us on floor votes and conference committees. We also need to watch what Gov Dayton who is up for re-election and won with less than 9000 votes in 2010 does. He has the power to tell house and senate leadership what he wants and what he does not want. And, since they are all in the same party – they usually listen. So far, Governor’s office is playing dumb even though they hired a Somali toddler to help us whom I am sure they will flash at Karmel mall in Nov. Ain’t that always the case.