The legislature returned last Tuesday from a week away. You remember that both the House and Senate passed their own versions of the budget bills before they left. The next step is to have a group called a “conference committee” work out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bills. Conference committees are made up of representatives from the House and the Senate.
On Tuesday the House and Senate decided which of their members would serve on the budget conference committees. The committees have begun to meet and have been learning about what is included in the other side’s bill. What is the same? What is different?
One of the big differences for all of the budget bills is that the House and Senate spent different amounts in the different areas. The conference committees won’t be able to make too many decisions until the leaders in the House and Senate agree to the amount that each committee gets to spend.
But you never know when there will be an important discussion or a conference committee will make a decision, so the Commission is going to the Capitol every day to watch the meetings and talk with the legislators.
Lobby Day Pictures
For fun, here is a slide show from the March 8, 2017 Lobby Day. All photo credits go to Melissa Jane Kielbus of Copper & Water and Jonathan Ainsworth. Enjoy! [Image descriptions are at the bottom of this newsletter.]
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Image Descriptions
Senator Foung Hawj (DFL) District 67 raises both of his hands and smiles during the morning "How to Meet with Your Legislator" training. Interpreter, Megan Bolduc, stands next to him and signs, "thank you."
Minnesota DeafBlind Association (MDBA) president Debbie Lentz, interpreter Alan Kenney, MNCDHH board member Valerie Shirley (presenter), and Diane Lentsch of DeafBlind Services MN, LLC stand onstage during the rally. MDBA and DBSM both received awards for their civic engagement activity.
MNCDHH board member Valerie Shirley is presenting onstage. Next to her stands interpreter Jimmy Beldon.
Jessalyn Akerman-Frank and MNCDHH board member Emily Smith-Lundberg jointly hold Jessalyn's award. Jessalyn was recognized for her citizen advocacy work. Both are smiling.
MNCDHH's Outreach & Civic Engagement Specialist, Sarah Arana, answers Anne Baynton and another community member's questions.
Debbie Lentz and Diane Lentsch watch the rally.
Six Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD) students watch the rally from the second floor balcony over the Capitol rotunda.
MNCDHH's Outreach & Civic Engagement Specialist, Kim Wassenaar, practices with community members during the morning training.
Community members fill the Capitol rotunda and watch the events onstage. Some are standing on the outskirts, most are seated.
MNCDHH's Outreach & Civic Engagement Specialist, Emory K. Dively, and VECTOR teacher, Kathy Manlapas, prep with Kathy's students about how to meet with their legislators. Only the top of some of the students' heads is visible in this shot.
Senator Karin Housley (R) District 39 is smiling and looking upwards as she speaks onstage at the rally. Standing next to her is interpreter Jimmy Beldon.
HLAA president, Christine Morgan, is presenting. Next to her is interpreter Jimmy Beldon. The audience is facing the presenter, their backs to the camera.
Two community members practice meeting with their legislators.
Representative Matt Dean (R) District: 38B is speaking onstage. He is flanked by interpreter Jimmy Beldon.
Two men practice meeting with their legislators.
Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens (MADC) president, Adan Burke, presents to the crowd during the rally, both hands raised.
MNCDHH Board Chair, Jason Valentine, presents to the crowd during the rally.
Steve Oglesbee at the rally. Also pictured are interpreters Richard Laurion and Susan Sweezo.
A stack of "How to Meet with Your Legislators" papers on top of a table.
The artistic blue and gold ceiling inside the Capitol rotunda.
Mike Cashman, Hannah Breitbach, and two additional women laugh and chat.
A group of people who attended one of the hearings gather outside of the hearing room and smile. Pictured are Peter Fettig, MNCDHH Government Relations Director Beth Fraser, Emory K. Dively, Emily Gold, Nikki Fargo, Danelle Gournaris, Emily Smith-Lundberg, Senator John Hoffman, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division Director David Rosenthal, Sonny Wasilowski, Justin Small, Shawn Vriezen, Adan Burke, Jamie Taylor, Paul Deeming, MNCDHH Executive Director Mary Hartnett, Casandra Xavier, and Diane Lentsch.
Dr. John Gournaris testifies at a hearing. Seated next to him is Senator Hoffman. Also visible are interpreters Susan Boinis and Cathy Mosher.
Inside a hearing room. The legislators are seated at a long table. MNCDHH board member Jamie Taylor is seated and ready to testify. Facing the audience members (whose backs are to the camera) is interpreter Lauri Krouse.
The Capitol building from the outside. Bright cloudy blue sky above and yellow grass/bare trees in front.
MNCDHH's Communication Coordinator, Anne Sittner Anderson, chats with CART provider Lisa Richardson.
Emily Smith-Lundberg, Rep Nels Pierson, interpreter Maria Dively, and Jamie Taylor are seated and ready to testify at a hearing. Rep. Pierson is speaking.
Breanna Schumacher, Derek Schumacher, Liz Brown and Candace Lindow-Davis smile in front of the interior Capitol steps. Derek's mother, Kathy, and Liz Brown were recognized for their lifetime achievements.
Emory K. Dively and Jessalyn Akerman-Frank are leading the morning training.
Aaron Gutzke, of ThinkSelf, a Program of CSD and Brian Nisbit, hold Marisa Bocanegra's award in front of the interior Capitol steps. Marisa received the General Award for her advocacy work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Debbie Lentz and Diane Lenscht hold their awards in front of the interior Capitol steps.
Fardowsa Ali and Jessalyn Akerman-Frank hold their awards in front of the interior Capitol steps.
MNCDHH Vice Chair, Brenda Ackerson, present onstage.
Jamie Taylor presents onstage at the rally. Behind her is Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) Robyn Lehmann-Doane, interpreting via Pro-Tactile.
The audience watches Emory K. Dively and Jessalyn Akerman-Frank at the morning training.
The gold and white North Star seal, at the center of the rotunda floor.
Derek Schumacher accepts an award on behalf of his mother, Kathy. Standing next to him is CDI Shawn Vriezen.
Liz Brown accepting her award. Candace Lindow-Davies points enthusiastically in her direction.
Candace Lindow-Davies presents. Next to her is interpreter Shawn Vriezen.
Dawson Moder presents Jimmy Beldon with an award for his work in increasing the accessibility of services by paving the way for Deaf Interpreters to become Certified Deaf Interpreters.
Eric Nooker and Dawson Moder presenting onstage at the rally.
Senator Ann Rest (DFL) District 45 presents. Interpreter Shawn Vriezen is working next to her.
