Allied Health in the 110th Congress

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Allied Health in the 110th Congress By John
Colbert Moss McGee Bradley and Colbert 810 First
Street, NW Suite 530 Washington, DC
20002 202-842-4723 www.mmbcpublicaffairs.com
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• What are you thoughts about Congress?
• Are you satisfied with their performance?

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Voters Have High Disapproval of All the Players
Job Approval Ratings
Stronglydisapprove 46
Stronglydisapprove 29
Stronglydisapprove 32
George W. Bush
Democrats in Congress
Republicans in Congress
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In
In comparative terms, Democrats still have the
high ground
In next years Congressional election, are you
more likely to vote for the Democrat or the
Republican?
Generally speaking, in whom do you have more
confidence to deal with the major issues facing
the country today?
Democratsin Congress
PresidentBush
Republican
9
18
Democrat
Not sure
Undecided
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2006 Elections Democrats take control
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Realities of Today

• Optimism for the new Congress is fading. A
  minority of voters still express a wait-and-see
  attitude.
• Voters Concern is 2007 are similar to concerns
  in 2006
• Do Nothing Congress
• Extreme Partisanship
• Special Interests
• Waste, Fraud and Abuse
• Out of Touch
• Message in 2006 CHANGE
• Message in 2007 We are still waiting or Will
  the Democrats actually follow through?

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Realities of Today

• Iraq Over 70 of voters view war in Iraq as
  maintain number one issue. Two different areas
  of Concerns
• Anger over lack of progress, lack of mission and
  loss of life.
• Frustration over cost in Iraq unmet needs at
  home.

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Realities of Today- Standoff over spending

• Showdown over spending brewing between the
  President and Congress
• Congressional Democrats are seeking to add 23
  billion in funding for domestic programs
• President Bush has threatened to veto every
  domestic spending bill that exceeds his funding
  request
• Resolution of this standoff unclear

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In veto fights over spending, voters initially
the public is divided
When you hear that President Bush will veto
several of the Democrats appropriations bills
for these reasons, who are you more inclined to
side with on this issue?
46
40
Much more 26
Much more 25
Side with theDemocrats
Side with Pres. Bush
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Making the Democratic case turns a narrow edge
into a strong advantage
When you hear that President Bush will veto
several of the Democrats appropriations/spending
bills, with whom are you more inclined to side?
Initial Support
Support after Arguments
57
26
6
46
40
31
Much more 42
Much more 26
Much more 25
Much more 18
Side with theDemocrats
Side with Pres. Bush
Side with theDemocrats
Side with Pres. Bush
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Voters side with Democrats over Bush on a wide
range of specifics
All voters
3.7 B more than Bush on veterans health
care 630M more than Bush on highways/bridgesjobs
1 B more than Bush on disease research 200 M
more than Bush on health care for uninsured 35 B
more than Bush on S-CHIP for uninsured kids 2 B
more than Bush on homeland security 65 M more
than Bush on food/medicine safety 1.5 B more
than Bush on schools/Head Start 1.6 M more than
Bush on law enforcement/crime
74
71
65
64
63
68
67
63
63
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Best rated slogans focus on investing in future,
right priorities, taking care of things at home
Focus group participants ranking each among top
four choices
Of 33 total participants
Invest in Americas future Its time to take
care of things at home Its time to get our
priorities straight Its time to put America
first Put Americas priorities first Stop
shortchangingAmerica for Iraq Invest
inAmericas priorities Stop shortchangingAmerica
First things first
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No incentive for the President to compromise

• Republicans feel that they lost the election
  because they became the party of excess spending.
• They are intent on reasserting themselves as the
  party of fiscal restraint.
• Nothing tests as strongly among Republican voters
  as curbing excessive spending.

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Showdown likely

• Democrats will complete their appropriations
  bills in the next month, with the Labor, HHS, and
  Education bill the first to be sent to the
  President.
• A Presidential veto is a near certainty.
• Congress will attempt to override the
  Presidential vetoes. This effort is unlikely to
  succeed, as only 10 of vetoes are overridden
  historically.
• This showdown will continue until almost
  Christmas, when either an Omnibus Appropriations
  bill or a long term Continuing Resolution will be
  sent to the President.
• A government shutdown is highly unlikely it is
  not in either partys interest.

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Democrats believe they have the upper hand as we
approach the 2008 Elections

• Democrats enjoy an average lead of 12 points in
  the generic presidential race (51-39)
• Democrats enjoy a 9 point lead in generic
  congressional balloting
• Likely voters favor Democrats
• Independents favor Democrats by 19 points
  (President), 14 points (Congress)
• Twelve Republican retirements in the House, only
  two Democrats voluntarily leaving, both to run
  for the Senate
• Almost twice as many Republican Senators up for
  re-election this cycle, four are vulnerable and
  three additional Republican seats are open due to
  retirements.

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Too early to predict the outcome for 2008

• However, it is too early to predict victory at
  this point -- and Democrats must prove that they
  can pass the audition the 2006 election provided
  and can run the government effectively

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What are we doing to help ASAPH in Washington?

• Broadening funding opportunities
• Department of Labor funding
• Workforce Investment Act reauthorization
• Higher Education Act Reauthorization
• Labor-HHS Appropriations HRSA Section 755 funding
  for Allied Health Programs

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What are we doing to help ASAPH in Washington?

• S. 605 the Allied Health Reinvestment Act
• Senator Cantwell sponsored
• Ongoing effort Republican cosponsor

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• Focus today making connections to the
  workforce system

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Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Funding

• Umbrella law for job training programs
• Funding provided by the Department of Labors
  Employment and Training Administration
• 3.4 billion in annual formula funding at least
  40 of the overall funding used for job training
• - Three funding Streams -
• Adults
• Dislocated (laid off) workers
• Youth ages 16-24

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WIA formula funding State funding

• States keep 15 from all formula funding streams.
• State has broad choices in how to spend this
  funding overseen by State Workforce Investment
  Boards (SWIB)
• SWIB required to have a business majority and
  SWIB members are appointed by the Governor.
  Representatives include elected officials,
  government agencies, labor, and experienced
  service providers
• Focused on addressing state workforce development
  needs

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WIA formula funding local funding

• Locals allocated roughly 85 of all formula
  funding
• The allocation of this funding is overseen by
  local Workforce Investment Boards (WIB)
• Over 600 local WIBs across the nation
• WIBs are also business majority with a Chair
  from the business community

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Local WIBs

• WIB members are appointed by local elected
  officials with criteria set by the Governor.
• Must be business majority and include labor
  organizations, local governmental partners,
  Community Based Organizations, disabilities,
  veterans, and education officials

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WIB focus

• Meet the job training demands of the local
  economy
• Oversee operations of their One Stop career
  centers
• Select training providers

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WIA training providers

• Most training currently performed by community
  colleges.
• Very little engagement by four year institutions
  DOL would like to have more training performed
  by four year institutions.
• This provides a real opportunity for ASAHP
  members.
• The key will be making the connection to your
  local workforce board.