ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. BUDGET CUTS PASS BY A SLIM MARGIN
2. GOVERNOR CORZINE'S TRANSITION TEAM ADVISORY REPORTS
3. CHILD ADVOCATE GOING DEEPER INTO FRAY
4. JUDGE GRANTS YATES BAIL
5. MEDICARE PART D INFORMATION
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BUDGET CUTS PASS BY A SLIM MARGIN
Poor, Elderly and Students to Feel Pinch
The House yesterday narrowly approved a contentious budget-cutting
package that would save nearly $40 billion over five years
by imposing substantial changes on programs including Medicaid,
welfare, child support and student lending. With its presidential
signature all but assured, the bill represents the first
effort in nearly a decade to try to slow the growth of entitlement
programs, one that will be felt by millions of Americans.
Representative Chris Smith (R Robbinsville) joined all
six Democrats in the New Jersey delegation in opposing the
measure.
Read the Washington Post story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/01/AR2006020100329.html
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GOVERNOR CORZINE'S TRANSITION TEAM ADVISORY REPORTS
A message from Governor Jon S. Corzine
During the transition, I called upon a diverse group of
experts to join our policy advisory groups and produce recommendations
on a range of important policy issues. It was an open, bipartisan,
and deliberative process, and I intend to take the results
very seriously.
Read the Transition Team reports:
http://www.nj.gov/governor/home/transition_reports.html
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CHILD ADVOCATE GOING DEEPER INTO FRAY
As state child advocate, Kevin Ryan was never afraid to
deliver blistering attacks against the child welfare reform
effort. In that role, he knew it was up to him to fire verbal
salvos, write critical reports or, as former Human Services
Commissioner James Davy once said in a moment of frustration,
"throw bricks from the cheap seats." But now Ryan
has moved from the cheap seats to the hot seat. On Monday,
he goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee as Gov. Jon
Corzine's choice to succeed Davy as commissioner.
On mental health, Ryan said he wants to sustain the momentum
created by former Gov. Richard Codey, who dedicated hundreds
of millions of dollars for new services, and Codey's wife,
Mary Jo, who brought enormous public attention to the issue.
Read Susan Livio’ report:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-4/113886174214330.xml&coll=1
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JUDGE GRANTS YATES BAIL
RULING: Stipulates she must commit herself to hospital
A judge's ruling Wednesday may release Andrea Pia Yates
from jail on bond, as long as she stays at a state mental
hospital until the start of her second capital murder trial
in the drownings of her children. Harris County prosecutors
expressed concern that Yates may be able to leave the hospital
without supervision, but Parnham assured state District
Judge Belinda Hill that he will alert her so that Yates
can be jailed if she tries to leave.
More from the Houston Chronicle:
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3630029
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MEDICARE PART D INFORMATION
The New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance has developed
a web page with links to an impressive array of resources
for those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare.
http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmahs/pland.htm
Information for PAAD recipients on Medicare Part D.
http://www.state.nj.us/health/seniorbenefits/pbp/caregivers.shtml
