On June 17, legislators passed a bill to restore $90 million in funding to the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). The funding was initially cut from the budget earlier this year. Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) offered an amendment during the budget debates on March 28; however, the majority of Assembly Majority members voted against the measure. Continued pressure from Blankenbush and his Assembly Minority colleagues, with the support of Majority Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, encouraged the Assembly Majority and the Senate to pass the bill and restore the funding.

Attached in an audio format are Blankenbush’s comments. The video of the assemblyman’s comments is available at: http://youtu.be/hSuU3IFS7k8.