Introduction

By Mike Kirby, Rehabilitation For Wisconsin, Inc.

The overall mission of RFW and of our members is to provide resources, programs and services that promote opportunities and empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of living in their community. On a statewide level, RFW advocates and promotes programs and services that break down barriers to independence for individuals with disabilities.

RFW is currently active in advocating for individuals with disabilities on a number of legislative fronts. We are doing what we can on a statewide level, but our real strength comes from the grassroot efforts of our members. In the last issue of the Scoop, we focused on grassroots advocacy and I would like to continue with this theme in this issue of the Scoop by sharing some of the legislative issues where YOU can put these grassroot efforts into action.

The Legislature will be in session all of June as they work on the State budget. As of the writing of this article, the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee is still modifying the Governor’s proposal and once that is completed both houses of the Legislature will have their say on the bill before it goes to the Governor for his review and vetoes. The State budget is the most important document that the Legislature will deal with over the next two years. The budget document sets the spending levels on all state programs for the biennium.

RFW follows the process from the beginning to the end. In this budget cycle, we are trying to get a tax credit for businesses that contract with CRP’s for work into the State budget. We are also supporting an increase in State dollars for supported employment and the CIP 1B program.

The Legislature is divided with the Republicans holding the majority party in the Assembly and the Democrats in charge of the State Senate. The division of the Legislature will mean that both parties will have to agree on the budget before it is sent to the Governor. It may be a long summer unless there is compromise between Democrats and Republicans. Make your opinion count in Madison.

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