I first want to thank both of you for your flexibility in allowing me to address the VFW yesterday and for VFW’s continued support of Maine Veterans Homes.
BLUF: We are going to appropriations this week and need as many people to call and email their state senators and representatives and members of the Appropriations Committee.
LD182 was able to make it out of HHS Committee unanimously (9-0), it passed the house on a roll call vote (143-0), and was then engrossed by the senate on unanimous consent. Unfortunately, it still did not make it into the base budget.
An amendment was requested by Sen. Moore to place LD182 in the budget; however, a vote to table the bill and send to appropriations passed along party lines (17D, 15R).
As far as we can tell, there is only $7M available to appropriations and over $1B in requests – LD182 is $5.2M. The committee will likely take up LD182 on Thursday or Friday.
If you could send this out widely to your networks, we need as many emails and phone calls to local state representatives and senators, as well as the members of the appropriations committee listed below.
You can find your local representatives information here:https://www.mainechamber.org/
We have an uphill battle, but still have a small chance of getting this to the finish line, but it will take all hands.
Attached you will find talking points and a sample letter.
Thank you for your continued support of MVH.
Brad
Brad Klawitter, FACHE
Chief Executive Officer
Maine Veterans’ Homes
460 Civic Center Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
Office: (207) 430-4465
Mobile: (513) 617-0068