The Second Half

As the last half of the 2009 legislative session begins on a humid Monday morning, all eyes are on the state budget. Many committee meetings are packed into this shortened work week (which will last only 2.5 days), and while regulatory and policy issues are important, no one can escape the ever presence of the budget. There is much concern by everyone regarding the state's use of federal stimulus dollars, decisions to cut provider rates and the growing rift between legislative members in the two chambers over just who makes the final decisions.

Let it be said that this short week may be more exciting than week's past. We're jumpstarting this Monday with a press conference today at 12:15 p.m. on the 4th Floor of the Senate Rotunda to address our concerns with these provider cuts when money is available through the stimulus package. FHCA will be joined by Senator Nan Rich (D-Weston), Leslie Spencer of AARP and Cloreta Morgan of SEIU. Watch for our next update with more on this event, and the resulting discussions that surround the state budget.