June 19: Conference Committee
Betrays the Most Vulnerable! The six-member Conference Committee defied both houses of the legislature in adding facility-closure language and removing the Fernald Center from weakened feasibility study language. Along with brutal cuts across the board, this budget goes to Governor Patrick with the blessings of legislative leaders.
Read COFAR's June 19 press release on how the feasibility studies could have stopped Governor Patrick's expensive facility-closure plan and helped fill the gap in day and respite services for persons living at home -- cuts falling hardest on committed family members who draw least on the DDS budget.
Read COFAR's June 1 letter to all Legislators about the Conference Committee.
Joint Committee Hearing, Gardner Auditorium, May 12
Testimony of Board Member Charles Hart
Testimony of Board Member George Mavridis
Testimony of Susan Surette and Patricia Beaulieu
Testimony of Robin Deininger
Letter of Lorrie Pierce
Letter of Fernald Parent Isabelle M. DeRosa
Stop the Shutdowns Fact Sheet #1: The Facts About Safety
New! Stop the Shutdowns Fact Sheet #2: Olmstead
Glavin White Paper: Real Costs of Closure
The Basic Five-Point Argument
April 29: House Voice-Votes Amendment to
Demand Feasability Study, Block Closures!
Actual Floor Debate from House Recap
Worcester Telegram and Gazette editorial
Springfield Republican story on amendment
April 28 Blue Mass Group blog by Fernald League on funding issues
Milford Daily News Op-ed by Rep.Thomas Stanley on facility funding.
April 7 Statehouse Stroll
COFAR FY10 House Budget Priorities
COFAR press release, quoting speakers
Remarks by COFAR President David Hart
Remarks by former Glavin director Dr. Alfred Bacotti
Remarks by Templeton parent Bonnie Valade
Berkshire Eagle coverage
Worcester Telegram and Gazette report
Waltham News-Tribune report
MetroWest Daily News story
Quincy Patriot-Ledger story April 7
COFAR Budget Testimony Exposes New Spending on Closure!
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