| MAP
Advocate |
Vol.10 No. 11
March 22, 2004
Take Action. Call On Your Senator to Support Minor's Consent
Your State Senator needs a phone call or an email to ask him or her to resist all efforts to weaken Minnesota's minors' consent law. Fortunately, the bill to do so was killed in the Senate health committee, but that doesn't mean it won't come up as a floor amendment just ask it did last spring. They should get a call from you "thanking them for their support last year and asking them to continue to keep the door open to health care for Minnesota's teens." Check out the MAP's key votes to find out who supported and who opposed minors's consent in the Senate. Then click your email or make your call.
Guarantee of Health Care Access for All Minnesotans Clears Senate Committee
Addressing the anxieties of a growing number of Minnesotans over affordable
and accessible health care, two bills calling for constitutional amendments
guaranteeing affordable basic health care to all Minnesotans cleared the
Senate Health and Family Security Committee on last Thursday. SF 2305
authored by Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Minneapolis) calls for the development
of a universal health care system. SF2333 introduced by Sen. John Hottinger
(DFL-Mankato) affirms the right of Minnesotans to affordable health care.
A recent commission chaired by former Senator Dave Durenberger found that
an increasing number of Minnesotans, including those with health care
coverage, fear losing access to medical care and the financial hardship
that often comes with an illness or injury. The bills will be heard next
in the Senate Rules Committee. The companion legislation in the House
has an uphill battle and has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. Check
the MAP Bill Tracker for more information.
MAP Supports Funding Increase for Minnesota's HIV Drug Assistance Programs, Needs to be Part of Bigger Fix
MAP provided written testimony to the Senate Health, Family Security and Corrections Budget committee in support of a proposal in the Governor's supplemental budget to increase funding for the state's HIV drug assistance and insurance reimbursement program. While supporting this "one time fix," MAP also expressed support for the committee's efforts to gain control over the escalating cost of pharmaceuticals and to address cuts in State health care access programs such as GAMC and Minnesota Care that significantly contributed to creating the need for this emergency action. Read the testimony in the MAP Bill Tracker.
Federal HIV Service Funding Cuts to Affect Minnesota
The press release came out of Washington on March 1st and it sounded good, there was a great new infusion of money into HIV care and social services going to cities around the country. But the headlines since have read a lot differently. First Boston, then St. Louis, then Houston, then New Orleans -- local planning councils faced with 5, 10, 15 percent cuts. The Twin Cities is no exception. Ryan White funding is reduced by 5 percent and MAP has been put on notice that the cuts are likely to translate into eliminating legal and benefits counseling services and most of what's available in terms of professional training and consumer education through corrections, housing, substance abuse and women & families systems advocacy. Think record tax cuts and the pressures of record-busting deficits don't affect you? Do we hear a 'Think again?"
Take Action: Sign Up for the 2004 Minnesota AIDS Walk
Sunday, May 16 is the Minnesota AIDS Walk, kicking off at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis. MAP's public policy and advocacy services depend on individual contributions, such as those raised at the AIDS Walk. It's another way to make your voice heard. Either register to walk or go online to make a contribution. Visit the Minnesota AIDS Walk home page.
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
public.policy@mnaidsproject.org
Mission & Values | Executive Director | Board of Directors | Annual Report | Publications | Calendar of Events | Employment | Contact Us
Last Updated:
Friday, March 30, 2007
[an error occurred while processing this directive]