Sooner or later, you or someone you love will become disabled. Maybe you know someone now--a parent, friend or other loved one. Being able to remain autonomous and direct our own lives is what gives our lives meaning, instead of being warehoused in a nursing home with limited options decided by others. IRIS allows disabled people to stay in their homes. The IRIS program is a Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services waiver for self-directed, long-term support. The program is an option for adults with long term care needs. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Long Term Care (DLTC), Office of IRIS Management under the authorization of the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) is responsible for oversight of the IRIS program. IRIS is available to Wisconsin residents determined financially eligible for Medicaid, functionally in need of nursing home or Intermediate Care Facility, and/or Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) level of care; and living in a county where managed long-term care and IRIS are available. People who are eligible have the choice of IRIS or managed care through their local Aging and Disability Resource Center. The participant has the flexibility to design a cost-effective and personal plan. IRIS provides an alternative to institutional managed care. Nursing homes are quite frankly a big and often faceless business, and who hasn't read the horror stories what happens inside them. Anyone who loves life will do their best to stay out of one as long as possible. People who choose IRIS design a waiver-allowable Individual Services and Supports Plan to meets their functional, vocational, and social long term care needs. Wisconsin has Medicaid Home and Community Based Services waivers 1915(c) and the Self-Directed Personal Care State Plan Amendment 1915(j) approved by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. These CMS approved applications define the types of services and goods included in the IRIS program. Disabled persons enrolled in IRIS are able to manage goods and services to meet their long term care needs and goals. IRIS funding waivers allow eligible recipients to remain in the community and avoid institutionalized care. IRIS program recipients are supported in self-direction by IRIS Consultants and Fiscal Employer Agents. IRIS creates jobs for caregivers outside of institutional settings, and serves the disabled population. Cutting IRIS won't make the disabled go away, but it will certainly make their lives more difficult. Scott Walker's Medicare/Medicaid cuts would kill the IRIS programs, forcing many disabled persons to sell their assets and move into managed care facilities where their quality of life is considerably more limiting and bleak. Please ask your local state representative to tell Scot Walker to preserve the IRIS program from budget cuts.

I am starting this petition because pre-school children can no longer get the hours they need to help for developmental disabilities. 20 years ago my 1 year old son needed and received 12 1/2 hours of in-home therapy to aid his lack of talking, movement, etc. If we asked NY State for the same services today, we would only receive 2 hours. It's a known fact the earlier you work with these kinds of children, the better chances they have to become full functioning adults. Please support this bill.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new plan which slashes billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. The truth is, when kids are hungry they struggle to learn. Ending childhood hunger is not only the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in our future. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. Hultgren knows that we expect better than a budget which leaves kids hungry.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new plan which slashes billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. The truth is, when kids are hungry they struggle to learn. Ending childhood hunger is not only the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in our future. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. Griffith knows that we expect better than a budget which leaves kids hungry.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new plan which slashes billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. The truth is, when kids are hungry they struggle to learn. Ending childhood hunger is not only the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in our future. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. Hurt knows that we expect better than a budget which leaves kids hungry.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new plan which slashes billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. The truth is, when kids are hungry they struggle to learn. Ending childhood hunger is not only the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in our future. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. Ftizpatrick knows that we expect better than a budget which leaves kids hungry.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new plan which slashes billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. The truth is, when kids are hungry they struggle to learn. Ending childhood hunger is not only the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in our future. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. Denham knows that we expect better than a budget which leaves kids hungry.

To: the Mayor, Town Council, WPCA members, and officials of Startford CT, and the GNHWPCA: • We don't see a public good in the regionalization with the New Haven Authority. • We don't want unanswered questions followed by a rubber stamp vote that surrenders our rights forever. • We will be at town hall on April 20 to let our voice be heard to stop this vote for a fire sale of Stratford's assets. • We will move forward to a referendum if the vote is yes. • "We" are citizens, voters, comprised of Republicans, Democrats and Independents, • We represent Stratfords' families, Business, Civic Organizations, residents. All are WPCA users and investors, • We are the voices that speak with one voice: Don't surrender the assets and control of our 100-year public investment in an efficient, cost-effective, WPCA system.

I started the petition because I am one of an estimated 54,000 Nebraskan's who would benefit from Medicaid expansion

The artists of Westbeth are being harassed and forced out of their studios, many losing their livelihoods . No new artist applications are being accepted. Their art is being thrown into dumpsters. The low income tenants on Section 8 have had their rents tripled and the US government is paying the difference, although Westbeth legally is supposed to be low, affordable rents for artists. The hurricane Sandy is being used as an excuse to end Westbeth as affordable housing for artists, and a center for the arts. Artists live in fear for their homes and their art.

Equal Child Custody and Parenting time in Pennsylvania is currently considered "Normal" at just 30% for father's. Children need both parents in their lives and the U.S. Supreme Court agree's. Children and parents should not be used to generate cash for any county or state, nor used as leverage to harm another financially or emotionally. This disparity in child custody nearly cost me my life and has adversely affected my young children and thousands of other children and father's in Pennsylvania, including taxpayer's.

I am disabled and only 33 years old. I am a single mother of two beautiful children. Thanks to the IRIS Program, I am in my home with my children, though I am disabled from the middle of my back to my toes. The reason for this is because IRIS allowed me to choose a care giver, or they would have found me one, figured out a monthly amount I am allotted through the program and is paying my care giver to take care of me and my household. My care giver cooks meals, helps with my children, helps with my pets, does the yard work; he does everything I would and could do before I became disabled. Without this program, I would have to be in some type of nursing or rehabilitation facility for the rest of my life. I would no longer have my children. I would no longer have my life. And that is not all IRIS does! If I were to need a new bed or a repair on my house such as a ramp going up to my door, I would simply submit it to my IRIS case worker, who is available for me during all business hours by phone. She would submit the request, and they would allot me the extra money, as long as it is something I need due to my disability. Please help the weak and vulnerable in the state of Wisconsin. If we can stand up together and save this program in Wisconsin, maybe it can grow and help someone you love.