This important message from ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources) outlines the importance of letting our Senators know how you feel about the proposed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which the Finance Committee has already passed, in an attempt to overhaul the federal tax code.

Please contact your Senators TODAY and tell them that you cannot support the legislation in its current form because:

• The changes proposed to the charitable tax deduction reduce the ability of nonprofit disability service providers to fund important services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
• As the only other federal support for Medicaid long term services and supports, the House passed legislation removing the medical expense deduction could put significant strain on the Medicaid program that serves people with I/DD.
• The changes to the unrelated business income tax (UBIT) impact the ability of nonprofit providers and their associations to maintain limited but important revenues.
• The changes to state and local taxes would have a negative impact on certain states that obtain significant funding from these taxes for services for people with I/DD.
• The House legislation’s elimination of tax breaks on bond financing could significantly undermine the financing for affordable housing for people with I/DD.
• The addition of $1.5 trillion to the national debt may be used to justify future cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security which are the main federal programs that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Click here to send an email directly to your Senators! Please do not put this off – a full Senate vote could happen soon after the Thanksgiving holiday.

This position is in keeping with the Board-approved ANCOR tax reform principles that we adopted at the beginning of this debate.

ANCOR Tax Reform Principles

1. Any process that includes changes to Medicaid should be accomplished through a process that affords sufficient opportunity for legislators, advocates, and constituents to review and provide feedback on the proposal and legislative language prior to passage.
2. Individual or corporate tax cuts or expenditures must not be paid for by cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, or other mandatory or discretionary programs that promote independence, inclusion, and community living for people with disabilities.
3. Tax reform should not decrease revenue to an extent that revenue is insufficient to continue to fund the programs and services and supports for people with disabilities at current levels or above.
4. The charitable deduction should be maintained and improved for the non-profit sector which provides the majority of services and supports for people with disabilities.
5. Unrelated business income tax should be held harmless to protect the vital role of nonprofits and associations in the disability services sector.

Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities. Should you have any questions or need more information, please contact Sarah Meek, Director of Legislative Affairs, at [email protected].

The Arc Minnesota has shared another great way to communicate with State Legislatures!

The “Telling Your Story App” provides a way for technologically-connected advocates to reach their elected officials.  This app, sponsored by the Minnesota’s Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, can be downloaded to your smart phone or tablet, and it enables you to draft and send your personal story to your elected officials.

You can find this app by going to the Arc Minnesota website link:  www.arcmn.org/telling-your-story-app

After you complete your story and send it to legislators, send it to Kathy Kalenberg at [email protected].   Whatever your public policy concern, your elected officials need to hear from you – and we want to hear from you, too!

Please join us in welcoming back Dea Kaping to our Aveyron family!  Dea has accepted the position of Part-Time Health Care Coordinator.  Dea worked for Aveyron as a Resident Counselor from October 2010 to February 2013.  She earned her RN License from Ridgewater College.  She has experience working at Prairie River Home Care and Hutchinson Health.  Welcome back Dea!

We are happy to announce Amber Winn’s promotion to Program Director!  Most recently Amber was the Program Coordinator of our home on Milwaukee Ave.  Amber began her Aveyron career in 2006,  when she was hired as a Resident Counselor at our home on Century Ave.  We are excited to have Amber join our management team!

We are excited to announce that Melissa Christensen has accepted the position of Health Care Coordinator!  Melissa was previously one of Aveyron’s Program Directors.  She has been with Aveyron in various positions since January of 2002.  During that time, Melissa attended nursing school and in 2015 became a Licensed Registered Nurse.  We are grateful for Melissa’s dedication to Aveyron!

Aveyron is a member of the ANCOR Services Corporation.  This is a resource available to Aveyron Employees, Clients, and Client Families.  Check out the flyer below for more details!