Note from Rep. Gara: Foster Youth Mentors Needed At Big Brothers/Sisters; Adoptive & Foster Parents Needed Too
I consider it good news when there are ways to help people. Many years ago, when I started working to improve our foster care system, I listened to youth, and learned I had it all wrong. Or partially wrong. One thing they made clear was that foster care isn’t all about, well, just improving the foster care system. It’s about what happens when a youth leaves the system, has no reliable parent, and has no reliable adult to turn to for advice. In prior years statistics have shown high post-foster care homelessness (approx. 35%) and incarceration rates (approx. 20%) and we all want to do better.
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Rep. Gara’s Newsletter: Good Budget News; Corporate Fiscal Plan that Will Harm Schools, Opportunity
A lot of good and bad things have happened since I wrote last. Here’s the good, bad, and, well, sorta’ secret stuff people should know about. And, on a revenue plan especially, I’d like to hear from you!
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Note from Rep. Gara: Public Testimony Tomorrow: Oil Company Subsidy
Tomorrow the House Rules Committee, which normally does not hold hearings, is holding public and oil industry testimony on a new version of the Governor’s bill to reduce oil & gas company “tax credit” subsidies. The Governor’s original bill included a modest tax increase to generate needed revenue in his bill, and much of that has been eliminated in the Rules Committee version of the bill.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Oil Tax & Subsidy Bill: Corporate Largesse, Much Fixing To Do. Oh, and One Good Bill For Kids
I’m tired. I’m working hard to smile and not let this thing called politics make me cranky. That’s to say, I hope this E-News update is written in at least marginally decent English. And I apologize I’ve been AWOL on newsletters recently! Here’s some good and bad and hopeful news on two important issues you may want to know about.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Self-Imposed Poverty: Why Budget Shouldn’t Hit Seniors, Those With Disabilities, Children
I’ve been buried in work. Which, of those things you can be buried by, isn’t all that bad I guess. But it’s kept me from getting you an update (Sen. Ellis and I did provide a legislative update in Fairview last week).
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