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

Tue Jul 27 03:12:43 UTC 2021

Jim,

Thank you for your thoughts, and I deeply appreciate them.  I think that your advice to continue educating our legislators in a nonpartisan manner is very, very sound.

To that end, I wonder if there are lessons we as an organization—and our fellow advocates—can learn from the seemingly partisan situation that exists on this bill.  Anil made it clear in his testimony that he has learned and grown over time: having once managed a sheltered workshop to now realizing that his compassion was misguided to refining his messaging as a leader and advocate.  Is there more we can do?  And, on the other hand, is there something that you and I and other Republicans who advocate on this matter can do, too?  Are there facts we can highlight—thinking of that ranking member going on about facts but only looking at, it seemed, one out of now several states…

What could we do, perhaps, to be even more effective moving forward?

Best,

Nathanael

From: CT-NFB [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jim McCollum via CT-NFB
Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2021 5:30 PM
To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Cc: J.Mccollum64 at comcast.net
Subject: Re: [CT-NFB] Did Anyone Watch the Subminimum Wage Hearing?

Hello, Nathanael and all.  

I have been a registered Republican since 1982, which was the year I turned eighteen. I voted for Reagan in 1984, and I've always voted for a Republican in presidential elections. I have occasionally voted for a Democratic candidate in local elections. I can remember when the ADA was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush, and it was a bipartisan effort. I wonder if such legislation could be passed in today's political environment.  

As I'm writing this, HR 2373 has twenty co-sponsors, seventeen Democrats and three Republicans. I was disappointed to hear some of the things I heard from Republicans. Those who support maintaining 14(c) certificates simply are misguided, and what I find alarming is that they seem to be reciting a party line, and they appear to have no interest in facts. I felt this way in 2018, when the House passed the ADA Education and Reform Act, which, fortunately, went nowhere in the Senate.  

I've always known that right-of-center views are not popular in the organized blind movement, but this has never bothered me. I've never felt that my political affiliation clashed with the ideas behind Federation philosophy.  

During our recent virtual national convention, I heard some mud slinging on political issues, and it bothers me that our movement seems to be drifting toward being consumed by partisan politics, which could become a distraction from our purpose.  

Nathanael, I think for now what we must do is to continue advocating for the interests of the blind, regardless of the political party of the legislators we are dealing with. I don't see me switching parties, but never say never.  

Jim Y. McCollum  

Board Member and Legislative Coordinator  

National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut  

860-581-0430 

j.mccollum64 at comcast.net 

On 07/25/2021 10:43 PM Nathanael T. Wales via CT-NFB <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote: 

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 14©.  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 14© 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 14© has been phased out successfully.  Her letter to the subcommittee was the only evidence that any Republican is left who realizes that 14© 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 14© 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  

ResearchGate: 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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