Before I begin, I want to say that it is always good to share the rostrum with Commissioner Fortman from the Department of Labor. We may take it for granted, but Maine is very fortunate to have many of our disability programs and services delivered through the Department of Labor. In some states these programs are attached to the Department of Education. In some states, the programs are associated with the Health and Human Services Agency. In Maine, we make a strong statement by being one of only a handful of states that aligns disability services with the agency primarily responsible for employment and workplace issues. That speaks volumes about our philosophy regarding disability -- we emphasize productive employment and full integration in the community as the foundation for our disability policy.
That surely fits in with my personal philosophy. I was raised in Rumford, and never gave disability issues much of a thought until I was injured during my freshman year at the University of Maine. As a result, I’ve experienced aspects of the “disability system” from the inside. I was fortunate to get the chance to work at Alpha One, first on a part time basis on a particular project -- and finally getting the chance to move into a full time position as an Independent Living Specialist.
One of the opportunities that I got was to begin working on advocacy issues at the Legislature. The first time I went over to the State House as an advocate -- it was the second time I had been there. The first time was on my elementary school field trip. Fortunately, I was able to work with some people who knew their way around the state house and it wasn’t long before I felt I was making a contribution -- following the Legislative process, talking about policy with elected and appointed officials and advocating for people with a disability.
I can share the main lesson from that first year -- collaboration and coalition building is central to success. If you don’t take away anything else from my presentation today -- this is the key. Good advocacy -- and good public policy depends upon collaboration and coalition building.
We were successful in securing a wage increase for direct care workers -- the first in ten years -- by building a coalition that included the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), consumers who depend upon direct care workers to remain independent in their own homes, and direct care workers. I found out that the best advocates for the workers were the consumers they worked for; and among the best advocates for consumers were the direct care workers. SEIU has a motto -- Stronger Together -- and I think that fits.
Our efforts were successful and we made an important first step because we worked together -- and worked together effectively. Without that organization and collaboration we would not have succeeded.
Here’s what else I learned from that first year of advocacy work. To be successful you need:
- Clear goal or target
- Coherent strategy
- Consistent message
- Constant attention
With those “C’s” you stretch your chance to succeed in getting out your message, and getting the outcome you seek.
We had success in that session -- but we didn’t make as much progress as we had hoped for. As long as Commissioner Fortman doesn’t repeat this, I’ll tell you a secret. Getting legislation passed is the first step. You have to stay after the Executive Department -- the state agencies -- to implement the changes passed by the Legislature.
In short -- relationships make an enormous impact. Collaborative relationships with other individuals and organizations that share your goals are a starting point. Relationships with Legislators -- including those of the committee of jurisdiction (the Committee that hears your issue); legislative leaders in both parties, and be sure to include your own legislator!
Another year, I had a different experience -- this time working on the “defensive” and working to reverse a budget decision that had been proposed by the Administration and would have meant a significant loss of services for some consumers of home based care -- and could have resulted in unnecessary (and costly) institutionalization. I guess you can see what I mean by having a consistent and simple message. That was our message -- and the result was a restoration of that program to the budget.
By then, I had enough -- it was time to try to move to the other side of the table. I was fortunate to get lots of encouragement -- from the Representative who was term limited and forced to step down, from colleagues who had shared my advocacy work, from my employer who allowed me to work a more flexible schedule in order to run a campaign, and from wonderful friends, family and supporters who helped me mount and manage a successful campaign.
There were lots of times that the process seemed daunting. Sitting on the sidewalk, looking up a flight of stairs between me and the door I needed to knock on could have been intimidating. Fortunately, I knew what I had to do, so I always had good help with the door-to-door campaigning and I was able to visit every home in the district and ask for their vote. I was running against a former Representative who had served eight years before being term-limited. It was lots of hard work, but I was elected by a margin of more than 60% of the vote.
I was delighted by the victory -- and humbled by the responsibility. My fellow citizens in the Rumford area were putting their trust in me at a particularly difficult time. It made me even more determined to do a good job to represent my community and all the citizens of Maine.
I brought the lessons that I had learned as an advocate to my work as a Legislator. I wanted to stay focused -- develop a manageable portfolio of bills that would make a difference. I wanted to use every opportunity to build relationships -- and to listen and learn. I knew that I needed to stay well-connected to my community, as well as build new connections with colleagues in Augusta.
On these matters -- as with most of life -- I am a “work in progress.” It has been a wonderful learning experience to serve of the HHS Committee, but it has also been an enormous challenge to balance the many demands and programs against the diminishing resources. Talking to veteran legislators, I heard one thing over and over -- it is a lot more fun to be a legislator when there is money than when there is none.
The budget we passed in the last session is the first one in recent memory that is actually smaller than the one before it. Costs for services continue to rise -- and we have reduced the overall state budget. That means we made some difficult decisions, and I fear that many more lie ahead. Tomorrow the HHS Committee is meeting and we will be discussing the budget and budget prospects. Unfortunately, the direction we have been given from our leaders, and the instructions that the Governor has provided to his Departments is similar -- look for activities or whole programs that can be eliminated to generate budget savings.
The question in Augusta is -- “Where do we cut?” For those of us working to provide essential services for people with needs, that is a very harsh question because it really becomes -- “Who do we cut?”
While the cuts will be painful and the process will be difficult, it will also present opportunities. For example, I was able to introduce legislation in the last session -- LD 1078 -- a bill to promote changes in our long term care system to make it more responsive to the needs of people with a disability and seniors while using taxpayer dollars more efficiently. The issue is complex and there are lots of people with a stake in the outcome, some opposed and some in favor. Fortunately, I was able to work with both AARP and Alpha One in developing the bill and they were strong and constant advocates for its passage.
After a lot of hard work, we won the support and backing of the Department of Health and Human Services to begin this important work. As a result, the Health and Human Services Committee endorsed this bill unanimously and sent it on to the floor of the House and Senate where it passed unanimously before going to the Governor. This took a lot of work and patience -- because the Legislative process is “the art of compromise.” Based on the ambitious goals of this legislation, the work has just begun, with meetings that began over the summer, will continue in the fall, have a report back in January to the Legislature, and the beginnings of the new system put in place a year from July.
Another take away lesson here -- important things do not move quickly -- so practice patience every day.
If we are successful, this bill will encourage a rebalancing of Maine’s long term care system, placing a greater emphasis on cost-effective home and community based services, and less emphasis on more costly institutional alternatives. It should promote greater choice, more transparency and portability as well as easier access to appropriate services that promote independence for people with a disability and seniors. It is also making some people nervous -- particular those who have established their niche in the system and are doing very nicely, thank you, and would prefer not to change. But change is what we must expect -- particularly as we look to do more with less.
This is the essence of “bending the curve” which is at the heart of the LEAN process that is the tool we are using to promote this systems change. I look forward to the work and have high hopes for the outcomes.
As the work for the second year of the session gets underway, I’ll also be starting up my campaign again. Outreach, listening, and looking for opportunities to serve my constituents are at the top of my list. I don’t think I unique in any way when it comes to this. I believe that everyone in the Legislature is motivated by a desire to serve as best they can. They may have strong opinions and convictions, but I find almost all of my colleagues are primarily interested in getting good results for the citizens of Maine.
None of us can arrive at those good results without guidance from our fellow citizens. Phone calls, e-mails, notes, messages, every form of communication you can imagine is important to me -- and I take it seriously. Legislators want to hear from citizens -- and especially the voters in their district. Taking a minute to log a call or send an e-mail may be the thing that shapes a final outcome. This is where the constancy and patience comes into play. To be a good advocate, you have to communicate clearly -- and often. Get your message out, and build a coalition of voters to help you develop it. I can assure you that having AARP with its 200,000+ members in Maine, busloads of them in red shirts who showed up to the public hearing, got the discussion off to a great start.
Citizens have power and can make a difference. So, I encourage you to think about the important issues, develop your ideas and approaches, build coalitions with like-minded associates, and promote those ideas at the state house. Almost everyone in this room could run for office. If you are willing to put in the work of knocking on doors, meeting and listening -- you can get elected. If that sounds like too much work -- you can still play a very big part. Make yourself heard. Build coalitions that can deliver the message.
Attitude is a key -- it’s easy to complain about things, and much harder to come up with solutions. As an advocate -- be part of the coalition working on a solution. The people who have ideas and are willing to think about problems and issues in new ways are often the people who have the most influence in Augusta. Look for creative solutions -- get involved as a problem solver.
It will be another tough budget year in Augusta. We will be forced to make more hard choices. I’m not looking forward to it, but it may create opportunities for us to do things in new ways that will meet the needs using the resources we have.
In the final analysis -- all of us together are smarter than any one or two of us. The opportunity to work for change -- and for making things better -- always exists. I urge you to find your best way to get involved and be a part of that change. You can do it -- you can make a difference. If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t be doing any of this.
Thanks for your time and attention. If we have time, I’d be glad to answer questions.
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