Alabama Department of Mental Health requests increase in funding
During this week’s budget hearings, the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) made its case for “level funding” before members of the state legislature. “Level funding does not necessarily mean level services,” said A jDMH Commissioner James Perdue. Perdue noted that because the cost of doctor visits, medications and other services continue to increase, the reception of similar funding from last year may not provide services equivalent to the previous year. “Nobody in the House or Senate is unsympathetic,” Perdue said. “All of them are compassionate men and women, there’s just a limited amount of funds.” After last year’s budget struggles, Perdue’s department was forced to close facilities in Decatur, Montgomery and Mobile – facilities that provided beds to a number of mentally ill patients in the state – and there is “no hope” of those facilities being reopened. “It creates a very critical problem across the state,” Perdue said.”We’re busting at the seams, there’s a high demand for services and we’re just not able to serve everyone.” Currently the department cares for 6,000 people across the state with “intellectual or developmental disabilities” and another 3,500 are in need of service. Additionally, the department runs Taylor Hardin Hospital, a secure hospital for violent criminals who were released on grounds of insanity, and Bryce Hospital, a secure facility for patients who are considered potentially dangerous. Perdue doesn’t believe that there is an appetite for raising taxes to fill the possible budget gap and, for that reason, his department is striving to find creative ways to provide the services that Alabamians need to combat mental illness and its various manifestations. The department plans to collaborate with the Department of Corrections to serve the mentally ill currently incarcerated and address autism early with intense programming to avoid expensive rehabilitation later in patients’ lives. “We’re certainly going to need further funding,” Perdue relented. If the department receives less funding than it did last year, Perdue believes that many local programs designed to aid the mentally ill will have to be cut.
Martha Roby thanks Jeff Sessions for his support in her re-election
On March 1, Republican voters in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District will head to the polls to cast their ballots between incumbent U.S. Rep. Martha Roby and challenger Wetumpka Tea Party leader Becky Gerritson — and if Alabama’s conservative Sen. Jeff Sessions has anything to say about it, Roby will emerge the victor. “I’ve been impressed with Martha Roby since she first came to Congress,” Sessions said in a release Wednesday. “Martha took the VA head on to make sure veterans in our state get the quality care they deserve. It’s rare to see someone stand up to a federal agency and get results the way she did. Martha works hard every day for our military, especially at our key Maxwell and Ft. Rucker bases, and she is known as one of the strongest pro-life advocates in Congress. Martha fights for constituents, and she’s an important part of our state’s delegation.” Roby has since said she was deeply honored by such words of support from a man she so greatly admires. “Senator Sessions is a bold, dynamic leader Alabamians are proud of, and I’m grateful to have his support,” Roby said in response to Sessions’ endorsement. “His breadth of knowledge on issues is unrivaled, which is why I have sought his counsel since even before I got to Congress. I admire Senator Sessions greatly, and I am grateful for his leadership within our delegation and our state.” Sessions isn’t the only throwing his support behind the Republican incumbent. Roby’s re-election has been bolstered in recent months by a strong showing of support from influential figures, well-known organizations and grassroots conservatives. She has also been endorsed by: 36 mayors representing every county in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, who cited Roby’s strong support for local military bases and involvement in community initiatives; The Alabama Farmers Federation, who said Roby has been “extremely responsive” to farmers’ concerns on federal issues. Agriculture is Alabama’s largest industry, supporting more than 93,000 jobs in AL-2; and The Alabama Patriots, the state’s oldest Tea Party organization, whose leader, Danny Joyner touted Roby’s work fighting to protect the unborn and defend Second Amendment rights.
Paul Bussman prefiles 2 bills aimed at protecting children
Among the senate bills prefiled for the upcoming Legislative Session are two from Sen. Paul Bussman of Cullman aimed at protecting children in unhealthy living conditions. According to SB1, current law requires courts to make “reasonable efforts” to preserve the family unit before initiating proceedings in juvenile court to terminate the parental rights of parents whose child has been placed in foster care or the Department of Human Resources (DHR). Bussman’s bill would eliminate that requirement if a child has been “in the presence of a methamphetamine laboratory or a location where illegal drugs are stored, kept, packaged, diluted, or manufactured.” The bill would require courts to regularly document whether “reasonable efforts” were made or required and to establish a “permanency plan” for finding the child a home. In conjunction with the assertion that “reasonable efforts” are not required in places where illicit drugs are stored, the bill also eliminates the need for reasonable effort in the following cases: if parents have subjected a child to “aggravated circumstances,” such as sexual abuse, torture, neglect and more; if parents have allowed the child to use illegal drugs or alcohol; if parents have abused or misused illegal substances; if parents demonstrate “extreme disinterest” in the child, manifested through neglect, abandonment, the presence of an untreatable emotional or mental condition, incarceration or a conviction for committing, attempting or assisting in murder or manslaughter of a child or parent. “We have a tendency to keep children in foster care too long,” Bussman told Alabama Today. “I want to get children out of foster care and into a stable home.” Bussman’s second bill, SB2, takes to task a current law that allows DHR to request a kinship guardian to care for a child under the state’s supervision. The bill would eliminate such requirements for out-of-state relatives who have not contacted the department within six months of the child being placed in its custody. “These children need to be somewhere that they can be loved,” Bussman concluded.
State’s high school graduation rate reaches record high
Alabama has reached a record graduation rate, with nearly nine out of 10 students now leaving high school with a diploma. The Alabama Department of Education announced the milestone Thursday. Officials said that in the last school year, 89 percent of students graduated from high school. The rate is within one percentage point of the department’s goal of a 90 percent graduation rate by 2020. The state’s graduation rate has been as low as 72 percent. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said the achievement is a testament to hard-working teachers and school staff. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
ALEA requests $23 million more for 2016
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is requesting an additional $23 million in funding from the state’s General Fund for the 2016 fiscal year. ALEA, founded on Jan. 1 last year, is the combination of a variety of previously unique law enforcement agencies, including state troopers, marine police, and homeland security. ALEA has been allocated $44 million from the state’s beleaguered general fund, a decrease of about $20 million from what the agencies were accustomed to receiving before being combined under the ALEA headline. ALEA Secretary Spencer Collier attributed the request for additional money to a variety of reasons, including the need to hire more troopers. According to Collier, ALEA has 420 troopers. A recent study found Alabama should have about 1,100 troopers on its roadways, and compared to other states, Collier called Alabama’s numbers “abysmal” and “embarrassing.” Because Alabama is facing another year with an estimated $200 million shortfall in the General Fund, legislators grilled Collier on how the agency could cut costs. Suggestions included the increased use of local sheriff’s to handle local accidents and the extension of driver’s licenses from four- to five-year coverage. In its first year as a unified law enforcement agency, ALEA issued more than 380,000 tickets, handled more than 30,000 vehicular accidents, ran 27 surveillance operations and handled 146 manhunts.
Jeb Bush goes after Donald Trump in new ad airing in New Hampshire
Jeb Bush is taking a swipe at GOP front-runner Donald Trump, this time for comments mocking a reporter with a disability, in a new advertisement. The new advertisement — called “Enough” — is part of the campaign’s rotating ad buy in New Hampshire, according to the campaign. “I believe life is precious. I believe is truly a gift from God and we’re all equal under God’s watchful eye, that’s what I believe,” the former Florida governor says in the 60-second spot, which features footage from a town-hall meeting. “When anybody, anybody disparages people with disabilities, it sets me off. That’s why I called him a jerk. What kind of person would you want to have in the presidency that does that?” Bush continues: “At what point do we say enough of this, let’s start solving problems?” The advertisement is the second in just as many days the campaign has released showing a more compassionate of Bush. On Wednesday, it released an advertisement, “Recovery,” where Bush talked about his daughter’s battle with drug addiction and recovery. Bush has been struggling in the polls for months, and national polling averages show he is in fifth place with 4.7 percent. Trump, national polling averages compiled by RealClearPolitics, is leading the pack with 35 percent. In New Hampshire, where the new ad is airing, Bush is in sixth place with 8.7 percent. Trump leads with 30.2 percent, according to New Hampshire polling averages.
Lawmakers frustrated with state Medicaid program’s $157M budget request
Alabama’s Medicaid commissioner told lawmakers Wednesday that the agency will need an additional $156 million to maintain services next year, a funding request that caused lawmakers to criticize the expense of the health care program and its recipients. Medicaid Commissioner Stephanie Azar said the program faces increased costs from inflation and owes money to the federal government because of overpayment. “I don’t envy the legislature in trying to determine that revenue, but it’s not going to be a good set of circumstances. If we were to be level-funded like we were last year, we would have to cut every optional service that we have, such as hospice, outpatient dialysis and other optional programs,” Azar said. Azar said the agency will need at least close to that amount to continue the implementation to managed care through Regional Care Organizations, something the state hopes will help contain cost in the future. One million Alabamians receive Medicaid. A little more than half of those recipients are children under the age of 18. Azar said there are very few abled-bodied adults who receive Medicaid in Alabama. Lawmakers expressed frustration about the cost of the health care program for the poor and disabled and some criticized recipients. “Unless we can get control of Medicaid, it could be the downfall of everything,” Rep. Lynn Greer, a Rogersville Republican. Sen. Larry Stutts, an obstetrician, said he has seen Medicaid patients call ambulances when they are in labor, while his private-insurance patients never arrive at the hospital that way. “When we look at what we’re asking taxpayers to subsidize, it’s absurd how much waste there is,” said Republican Stutts of Muscle Shoals. Other members criticized emergency room usage by Medicaid recipients. Democrats on the committee said most people on Medicaid in Alabama are children of the working poor or are disabled adults, and might have difficulty getting to medical appointments because of transportation issues. “They’re really poor people, correct,” said Democrat Rep. John Knight of Montgomery. Azar said there is little the state can do to restrict programs since the federal government provides 70 percent of the money and sets the Medicaid rules. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Mike Rogers: Fighting for our rights in East Alabama
The Second Amendment is one of our most deeply held rights as Americans especially here in East Alabama. President Obama is infringing upon our cherished right by recently announcing executive action to tighten gun control laws. In response to his unlawful action, I joined my colleagues on a bill of disapproval. During his time in office, the president has shown blatant disregard for the Constitutional rights of Americans and has continuously overstepped his power by circumventing Congress and our lawmaking process to do whatever he wants. As a gun owner myself, I am strongly opposed to any action that places any type of restrictions on our right to bear arms. Just last week, I signed onto H.R. 4321, the Separation of Powers Restoration and Second Amendment Protection Act. This legislation would make any executive action that infringes on the power of Congress or on the Second Amendment be null and void while prohibiting funds for it. I am one of the most ardent defenders of our Second Amendment rights in the House. This Congress I have cosponsored five bills that help protect our gun rights. One of them that has gained much attention is H.R. 3126. This legislation would prohibit the Commissioner of Social Security from furnishing the name of any individual in a report to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System unless a Federal court has determined the individual to be mentally defective. This administrative action is another attempt by the anti-gun left to chip away at our rights. Remember their strategy, just like with President Obama’s executive orders, is to whittle away at our rights until the government gets in control of everything in our lives. That’s why we must stay vigilant and fight. I will continue to stand up for the United States Constitution and fight for our Second Amendment rights. Mike Rogers represents Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District. He is in his third term.
