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<p class="MsoNormal">Fellow Federationists,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Thank you to those of you who have been sending me questions about this legislation regarding blind vendors in state parks. I thought that it might be helpful to everyone to be able to read the bill (attached in a short
PDF document) and the actual section of the bill that we are discussing (pasted below).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you have any further questions, please raise them. I think we are off to a good start, but our work is definitely not over. Keep it up!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lines 45-<span style="font-size:11.5pt">54<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Sec. 4. (NEW) (<i>Effective from passage</i>) The Commissioner of Energy
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> and Environmental Protection shall issue a request for proposals for
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> the operation of the food service facilities located in the state parks and
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> forests under the custody and control of the commissioner. In
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> awarding any contract for the operation of such food service facilities,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> the commissioner shall award such contract to the highest responsible
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> bidder. Nothing in this section or section 10-303 of the general statutes,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> as amended by this act, shall be construed to prohibit the Bureau of
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> Education and Services for the Blind from bidding on any contract
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">authorized pursuant to this section.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The proponents of this bill are saying that BESB would still be allowed to bid on the contracts, but BESB would have to be the highest bidder in order to get the contracts. The way the current system works, BESB has first dibs on those
vending stations. If this bill passes, BESB would have to outbid competitive businesses for those vending stations. BESB is low enough on funding as it is, and any money that BESB has to spend on bidding for contracts is going to be less money that BESB
has to offer services to you and me. As we know from earlier emails, there are currently blind vendors at state parks who can lose their jobs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We know that BESB wants to serve all of us well. We have a responsibility here to (a) protect blind vendors and (b) protect the BESB budget that serves us all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yours in Federationism,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Justin Salisbury<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Justin M. Salisbury<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">B.A. in Mathematics<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Class of 2012<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">East Carolina University<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:president@alumni.ecu.edu"><span style="color:blue">president@alumni.ecu.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” —MARGARET MEAD<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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