Dear What,
It’s probably worth it for you to make a plan to bring two of your most sympathetic and articulate family members to the hearing, The plan should include some advance work with the main television stations,the two state house reporters from the Globe and the Herald and especially the State House News Service. (Everybody in the State House reads the SHNS.) In fact it’s worth it to go up to the State House on Thursday and introduce yourself to the SHNS people on the 4th floor and hand around press releases that include some photos and a two sentence statement from the two witnesses.
Then go to the offices of the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees and tell them you will have some grieving families with limited time to be available to testify. See if you can get some supportive Legislators to call the Chairs to support your request to testify early. The staff will tell you that the order is first come first serve and you must sign up, and bring 30 copies of your testimony
So do it, Get yourself and your family story tellers to the State House a half hour early, sign up to testify, but instead of going into the auditorium, wait out side the doors for the TV cameras and the print reporters, hand out your press releases. They might be eager to get a few shots and get out there early.
Now get back into the Auditorium and get in line to offer your testimony. Make it short and sweet by the way, Hopefully you will get up early in the morning—the press will not stay, but you’ve already done all you could. Take some pictures yourself that you can send along to local media along with a press release. If you find yourself waiting till the early afternoon just hand in your testimony to the staff person sitting at the end of the long raised podium and tiptoe out. Thow some kisses at the Chairs as you go. (Only kidding NOT!)
Be polite and patient anyway, and Good luck!
Folks will be wheeled in with wheel chairs with their oxygen tanks. Sadly, most of the Ways and Means Committee members will leave before the end.
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p>For any area where there is a “dedicated hearing” like education or the judiciary, showing up for this huge hearing about human services really is not appropriate. This “public hearing” is about the neediest, most disabled, and for human services line items that are in and of themselves not part of the Judiciary area, education area, law enforcement, Executive, etc.
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p>In the past, the legislature’s website sometimes posted a table showing all the meetings for the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, but this year no such table was posted.
Amber — I think “new comers” to the process can get a little leverage by going to the Public hearings, as frustrating as they can be to old timers like us. I actually learn a lot by just listening. l
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p>State officials are coming to a town near you – defending their budgets and justifying priorities. Keep your eyes peeled for local hearings, launching March 2nd.
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p> Senator Steven Brewer, Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, released the list of Joint House and Senate budget hearings on Facebook, of all places.
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p>Although the purpose of these meetings is for Ways and Means Members to hear from the Governor’s staff, it doesn’t hurt to go to one of these hearings if it’s in your area and you are available. It is certainly an opportunity to talk about your program to any local members of the House and Senate Ways and Means Committee, and to the local media. Sometimes – though rarely – the committee will let local people testify at the end even if it’s not on the agenda… [More info at realclout.org]
But expect to testify – no. Well said, Judy. Also, when those with such extreme needs are visually present, those who are “merely” seeking to perform necessary or even constitutionally mandated functions can look “greedy” or not show to advantage. But to attend to listen and learn if one has the time, or is paid by an employer to attend as part of the workday – that makes sense. Also, you are correct that “face time” and one to one discussions with one or more lawmakers are possible at these events, without attending a fundraiser, this is also true.
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p>The huge Gardener Hall hearing though really is focused on those with extreme needs for services within the human services framework, in my experience.
that’s just our governor’s idea of transparency in government–if the public doesn’t know when the hearings will be held, they won’t show up!
What? The Governor ( executive branch) is in charge of posting hearings for the Legislature ( legislative branch)? Have you never heard of the concept of separate, equal, and independent branches of government?
I don’t see the new Vice-Chairwoman.