pls testify Wed afternoon to AFA-HHS against elimination of COLAs

[Maine Disability Alerts]

Dear Friends of Mainers with Disabilities,

Public hearing is this Wed, Feb 12, on the portions of the state biennial budget that defund cost of living increases (COLAs) for direct care workers who support children and adults with disabilities.

It was a great victory by the disability community in 2021 when Maine agreed to pay direct care workers at least 125% of minimum wage, even though that wasn't really enough, but the current budget proposal would stop the annual increase and thus reduce the percentage below 125%. In an environment where there is still a labor shortage, this will reduce access to support.

Enough broken promises. Please testify AGAINST THE ELIMINATION OF THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.

The hearing block starts at 1 pm. You can sign up to testify in person at 228 State House (the Appropriations hearing room) or online at www.mainelegislature.org/testimony by 12:30 pm Wed, after which you'll get instructions on how to connect by zoom when they call you're name

• Go to www.mainelegislature.org/testimony
• Click "Public Hearing"
• Choose "Appropriations and Financial Affairs" from the pull-down menu
• Choose "Feb 12 2025 1:00PM" from the "choose date" pull-down menu
• Fill out the form, upload or type in your written testimony if you have any, and include name and email address and phone # to get the sign-up for testifying over zoom (they don't publish your phone #, they just ask for it in case you end up doing your zoom testimony via your cell phone so that they know who you are)

Thank you!