WISCONSIN UNITED
for MENTAL HEALTH

February 25, 2008

Dear friends (the more than 550 of you who were able to come to Madison for Mental Health Parity Action Day and the countless others who are advocating from home),

Thank you one and all for the many ways you contributed to the tremendous success of our Mental Health Parity Action Day. I smile as I write, remembering vivid images of that triumphant day and savoring the congratulations that came from many quarters.

To relive the moment with me, click the links below to access both a photo gallery and some of the press coverage of the event:  http://ltgov.wisconsin.gov/scrapbook_view.asp?ssid=167&locid=126

I will never forget the sight of the capitol rotunda brimming over with our determined crowd in sunny yellow t-shirts, taking in the inspirational words of SB 375 co-sponsors Senator Dave Hansen and Representative Sheryl Albers. Nor the bipartisan line up of legislators who also signed on, there to express their appreciation for such a large and smart and visible constituency to support them.

I will also remember your gracious accommodation to tight quarters at the funky Majestic, and the generosity of so many who volunteered to make this day happen. Members of Wisconsin’s legislature will long remember the most articulate and effective citizen lobbyists they have ever welcomed into their offices. I know that because so many have already taken pains to tell me.

It was a triumph. But our work is not done.

Today, Rep. Albers released the bill for co-sponsorship in the Assembly (LRB 3794/2). As she explained last Wednesday, the next challenge lies in ensuring that Mental Health Parity receives a committee hearing in the Assembly so it may move to the floor for a vote. You can help make that happen by calling or writing to Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (contact information below) to ask him to assign the bill to the Public Health Committee, chaired by Representative “Doc” Hines, who promises to give it a hearing.

If you lead an organization, I suggest you invite all your members to communicate with the Speaker, to remind him of a leader’s responsibility to give all our representatives a chance to weigh in on Mental Health Parity (SB 375 or Assembly LRB 3794/2).

You gave this bill a powerful and jubilant launch. Let us carry on and work together to close the deal, to deliver it to Governor Doyle’s desk before the close of this legislative session.

With my gratitude and warm regards,

Barbara Lawton
Lieutenant Governor

Speaker Mike Huebsch Contact Information:
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
Rep.Huebsch@legis.state.wi.us
888-534-0094/608-266-2401