[CT-NFB] Did Anyone Watch the Subminimum Wage Hearing?

[Nathanael T. Wales]

Justin and All,

 

Thank you for this link.  I had already read the main text of Anil Lewis'
testimony and was very proud, and I looked forward for several days (until I
could get the time between work and family) to listen to his spoken
testimony and Representative Hayes' participation in the hearing.  They
certainly made it well worth the investment of my time.  I was troubled,
though, from the outset, at how partisan the hearing was.  This is not a
Democrat vs. Republican issue, and Federationists and other advocates who
are otherwise members of both parties have advocated for years and decades
for the end to Section 14C.  I wonder how we got here, and I ask what we can
do as advocates to bring us back to a discussion in which Republicans aren't
attacking mostly Democrats for having a flawed solution and asking that
"choice" (in this case to engage in what might appear to be work under a 14C
certificate) be preserved.

 

And I say that as a Republican since age 11 and one registered to vote at
age 18.  I say that as one proud that it was Richard Nixon who signed the
Rehabilitation Act and George H. W. Bush who signed the Americans With
Disabilities Act.  (And for those wondering what sort of Republican I am in
the party of the late 2010s and today, I will let you take a clue from my
previous sentence.)  And, indeed, I was immensely proud when Representative
McMorris-Rogers addressed our Washington Seminar Great Gathering In several
years ago-on this issue and coming from the perspective of both a parent of
a person with a developmental disability and a representative of a state
where 14C has been phased out successfully.  Her letter to the subcommittee
was the only evidence that any Republican is left who realizes that 14C is a
false "employment" "Choice".

 

I wonder what we can do to address and remove this partisan character that
has come into the discussion.  What may have happened to get us to this
point?  Are there lessons we can learn?  Ultimately, what can we do as
Federationists, along with fellow advocates, to end the partisan nature that
has permeated the discussion and get back to dealing with all of the facts
involved?  Like that Representative McMorris-Rogers' state successfully
phased out Section 14C as a counterpoint to the inadequate job repeated and
repeated about Maine?

 

I'd be delighted to hear everyone's thoughts.  My political party membership
shouldn't so strikingly bring me in conflict with my Federation membership
and pledge.

 

Very Best,

Nathanael

 

 

From: CT-NFB [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Justin
Salisbury via CT-NFB
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2021 4:38 PM
To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Cc: Justin Salisbury
Subject: [CT-NFB] Did Anyone Watch the Subminimum Wage Hearing?

 

Hey everyone,

 

Did anyone else here watch the subminimum wage hearing? It was awesome! Anil
Lewis did a wonderful job representing the National Federation of the Blind.

 

Connecticut's own Congresswoman Jahana Hayes did a great job using her
opportunity for questioning to pull out supportive points for our side. This
told me that Federationists in Connecticut have done a great job working
with the Congresswoman from the 5th district to build a strong ally in her. 

 

If you haven't seen the hearing, here's a link to where you can watch it on
YouTube. It's about 2 hours and 39 minutes long, but it's so worth watching.


 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVnUWfsH07o

 

Aloha,

 

Justin

 

 

Justin Mark Hideaki Salisbury

he/him/his

 

Phone: 808.797.8606

Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu

LinkedIn:  <https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury>
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury  

ResearchGate:  <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin_Salisbury>
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin_Salisbury 

 

 

"Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the
person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels
pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore."

 

Cesar Chavez

 

 

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