Yesterday Thursday May 8th 2014, Sen Benson moved to amend the HHS policy omnibus and not eliminate the cost free, parent empowered autism task force and the following are the Senate floor votes. 40 YES for Autism families and 22 NO against autism families.
The votes were 40 YES and 22 NO in our favor. Drum roll please……….. The amendment passed and the motion prevailed. Yay! Don’t sing yet, because the whole bill now goes to Conference committee. The Senate Conferees are; Sen. Hayden, Sheran, Rosen, Lourey and Wiklund.
Those who voted in the affirmative were: Supporting keeping the MN Autism Task Force & Supporting Minnesota Autism families. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!
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Anderson (R) Benson (R) Bonoff (D) Brown (R) Carlson (D) Chamberlain (R) Dahms (R) Dibble (D) Dziedzic (D) Eken (D) Fischbach (D) Franzen (D) Gazelka (R)
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Hall (R) Hann (R) Hayden (D) Ingebrigtsen (R) Kiffmeyer (R) Koenen (D) Limmer (R) Lourey (D) Miller (R) Nelson (R) Newman (R) Nienow (R) Ortman (R) Osmek (R) Pappas (D) Pederson, J. (R)
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Pratt (R) Reinert (D) Rosen (R) Ruud (R) Senjem (R) Sparks (D) Stumpf (D) Thompson (R) Tomassoni (D) Weber (R) Wiger (D)
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Those who voted in the negative were: (Wanted to Eliminate MN Autism Task Force and Silence Minnesota Autism Families) Elections have consequences, so should votes. Who said it?
Gov Dayton said that.
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Clausen (DFL) Cohen (DFL and board member of Confederation Somali Community of MN which has the highest autism rate in Minnesota) Dahle (DFL) Eaton (DFL, Represents West Africans in Brooklyn Center area who also have high rate of autism) Goodwin (DFL) Hawj (DFL) Asian autism kids get less services in case you were confused. Hoffman (DFL) Jensen (DFL – voted for the wealthier autism families last session as well) Johnson (DFL) Kent (DFL) Latz (DFL) Marty (DFL – most disappointed at him)
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Metzen (DFL, not surprised) Petersen, B. (GOP) Rest (DFL) heads the important tax committee which has zero color or diversity, not surprising. Scalze (DFL) Schmit (DFL) Sheran (DFL) Sieben (DFL) Skoe (DFL) Torres Ray (DFL, Hispanic Americans get less services as research states, yet no love from Torres Ray – why) Wiklund (DFL)
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There you have it. The votes as it was recorded and as they say the proof is in the pudding. As you can see, we have more support from MN DFLers in the Senate then we did in the House. We also have almost all GOP support in the Senate and majority GOP support in the House. Think about that for a minute because MN minorities and low income folks give their vote to DFLers, yet that support is not a two way street.
In other words, if those that preach we care, blah blah and vote screw you, then we can use our votes and eliminate them. How about that for a change. Minnesota has a high autism rate, Somalis have the highest, Minn has a horrible racial health disparity including autism and these are the fair share preaching party. Come on now. We can’t be stupid forever. We must connect our votes at the ballot to their votes on the floor & in committees.
Above words do not reflect any committee, agency or candidate.
Thanks!
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate