| MAP
Advocate |
Vol.10 No. 7
February 16, 2004
Can't Make it to the Capitol on Wednesday? Here is How to Join Us From Your Desktop!
Of course, there being there
at the State Capitol is the most visible way to deliver the message for
AIDS Action Day, but we know that not everyone can do that. Fortunately,
there are lots of ways you can reinforce the message from your own home.
The morning of AIDS Action Day, do one of two things. Make a phone call
to your lawmaker or click them an email. In the message, let them know
that you are participating in AIDS Action Day today, but you are doing
it from your home. Take a moment to let them know about your support for
comprehensive sexual health education and for HIV prevention targeting
Minnesota's African-born communities. Lawmakers will be seeing a sea of
red ribbons as they go about their work on the 18th. Help them tie the
issue back to their constituents.
Think you can make it after all? You can still register,
but do it now!
MN Student Survey Debate Raises Questions About Who Is Really In Charge
On February 10, the Senate Education committee heard testimony about the Department of Education's 360 degree maneuver on its policies regarding active parental permission for student participation in the Minnesota Student Survey. In December, the Department made a decision to move ahead with the student survey as it has been administered in the past, which included a process of notifying parents and students of their ability to "opt out" of the voluntary survey. Then at the end of January, the Department suddenly changed its tune, just days before school districts were to start implementing the survey. In a letter from Commissioner Sherri Pearson-Yecke, the Department claimed that federal funding required active parental approval for any student to participate in the survey, an action that would invalidate the results and render them useless to the many researchers who depend on the data in addressing the health needs of young people. Then, a week later, the Commissioner issued a new statement reversing the one she made a short week earlier. To be clear, the Commissioner's January ruling was wrong. In part, because federal education funds are not used for this survey, but also because the federal restrictions the Commissioner was citing do not apply to voluntary surveys. An outcry from prevention researchers as well as educators contributed to the Department's change in course. So, the Senate education committee went to work to try to figure out "why all of the confusion." Commissioner Yecke didn't show up to answer questions, instead sending department staff to represent her. The staff frequently responded to questions saying 'they were not consulted on the decision,' did not know why decisions were made, or just plain could not represent basic facts about the survey, its funding or accurate interpretation of federal law. When pointedly asked who worked with the commissioner to get her to change her mind between December and January, the response was mushy, at best. Of course, with representatives from the Minnesota Family Council and EdAct (formerly the Maple River Coalition) attentively watching at the hearing, the answer seems apparent. Is the scientific McCarthyism we've seen at the federal level coming home to roost in Minnesota?
Desktop Lobbying Made Easy at the Public Policy Page of mnaidsproject.org
Be sure to visit the Public Policy page at mnaidsproject.org. On there you will find everything you need to be an effective HIV advocate without even having to leave your office or house! Information on HIV issues in St. Paul and Washington, info on your legislators, and tips on the best way to make your voice heard. We will update the page regularly as the legislative session progress so check it now and then check back often. New to the Public Policy Page this week will be key votes -- a record of how your legislators voted on key issues related to HIV.
Bill Introduced to Reinstate Health Education Requirement
Rep. Connie Bernardy (DFL-Fridley) introduced legislation to reinstate the requirement health education requirement to the state's graduation standards. The requirement was removed during the heated Profiles of Learning debate last session, leaving students nowhere to get information on HIV and STI's, let alone other important preventive health information to help them make better and informed choices throughout their life. Stay tuned to the MAP Bill Tracker for more information on this bill.
Last week, a coalition of labor unions proposed a constitutional amendment establishing affordable health care as a basic human right of all Minnesotans. The amendment is in response to poll data showing that most Minnesotans agree with efforts to provide more universal coverage, as well as concerns about being priced out of health care. If the state constitution assures Minnesotans of their right to hunt and fish, why shouldn't it also provide for the right to accessible affordable health care, says the AFL-CIO. Throw in the numerous other bills already proposed addressing health care costs and it looks like this is a question many Minnesotans will be waiting to hear answered. The labor groups hope to see the amendment on the November 2004 election ballot.
A year ago there were a lot of promises made about the U.S. government stepping out in a big way to address the global AIDS epidemic, especially in Africa. As the "i's" have been dotted and "t's" crossed, the promise of having a big impact is becoming less real. Check out News and Views at the Public Policy page of mnaidsproject.org to find out what the New York Times editors have to say about the global AIDS initiative -- one year after it was announced in the President's State of the Union address.
MAP Advocate is published by the Minnesota AIDS Project every two weeks while the Minnesota Legislature is in session, and monthly during the rest of the year. It is available through the MAP web site mnaidsproject.org and through email list service. If you wish to order the MAP Advocate, visit our Join the Action Network page, or contact MAP Public Policy by phone or email.
MAP Public Policy
Minnesota AIDS Project
1400 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-341-2060
800-373-2437
publicpolicy@mnaidsproject.org
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