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Volume 16, Issue 3
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Spring 2004 |
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| published quarterly by: The New Hampshire Challenge, Inc. P.O. Box 579, Dover, NH 03821-0579 |
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| In This Issue |
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Stuart-Sinclair Weeks, who has entered the exploratory phase for an Independent race for Governor, has concerns about Governor Benson's and Commissioner Stephen's determination to replace NH's Medicaid system with block grants. "The role of a public servant is to serve the citizens of the state," Weeks said. "That asks for careful listening and the honoring of citizens' concerns. I don't believe that's happening with this issue."
"The way the Governor and Commissioner are pushing the block grants," he added, "is not only the result, I believe, of questionable thinking on their part, but the deliberative process the Governor has set up -- beginning with a mere 3 minute slot per person for citizens' input -- adds insult to injury."
Weeks has worked with individuals with developmental disabilities. "If the Governor and Commissioner knew anybody personally who is developmentally disabled, I can't imagine that they would suggest such a procedure. It will take most people with these concerns a minute or two to simply ease their throbbing hearts."
"With respect to the proposal, itself" he stated, "I can't believe that the Governor and Commissioner have any idea of the impact that changing from Medicaid funding to block grants will have on the lives of thousands of NH citizens, their families and friends.
"Beyond that," Weeks emphasized, "the Governor and Commissioner appear bound and determined to dismantle one of NH's showcases, a real 'jewel.' The work of the NH developmental disability community has not only been a national but an international model. If Benson and Stephen recognized this fact," he said, "I trust they would think twice on this matter."
Stuart-Sinclair Weeks is inaugurating The Citizens' Movement to Restore Our Democracy, a "call to fellow Americans to take to heart the concluding words of our Declaration of Independence: 'We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor'."
"Our focus is on Public Service, as opposed to 'politics as usual'," Weeks explained.
Toward this goal, The Citizens Movement to Restore Our Democracy will hold its own Citizens' Hearing on the State House steps on Tuesday, May 4, at noon, the day before the Governor's review process is set to begin. Any and all parties who wish to speak are encouraged to contact maryhmiller@ macs.net. Those unable to attend are invited to call in beginning at 12:15pm to register their support. The number to call is 547-0136.
"Not only will members of the developmental disability community be given the time they need to tell their story," Weeks said, "but we invite other citizen groups who have concerns about how the current administration is making decisions, to join in and lend their moral support."
Weeks extended an invitation to Governor Benson and Commissioner Stephen to attend the Hearing. "We issue the Governor and Commissioner a heartfelt welcome," Weeks stated, "to come and get a sense for how issues of such significance to their fellow citizens are properly addressed in our 'Participatory Democracy.' The Citizens' Hearing will, I trust, provide our Chief Executive with an instructive lesson." |
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Related Stories:
Medicaid block grants and DHHS reorganization
Will New Hampshire apply for a Medicaid block grant?
Medicaid Comparison Chart
Commissioner Stephen to hold hearings on the future of Medicaid
Proposed principles for the NH Medicaid program |
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