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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">Some misguided people in our state legislature are trying once again to make guide dogs a part of the health insurance system. We, the organized blind, do not want our guide dog schools to lose their autonomy and have to answer to health
insurance companies. When this came up last year, we thoroughly discussed and effectively fought this bill. We stopped it dead in its tracks. We can do it again, and most of us are already familiar with the issue.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This bill is clearly a very high priority for the state legislature this year, so we will need to rally even harder than last year. The bill number is 35, which means there were only 34 things that the state thought were more important
than this bill. They are going to try hard, and we need to convince them not to take the autonomy away from guide dog schools.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will be hosting a call for all affiliate members on Thursday, February 18, at 8:30 pm ET. To attend, dial 641-715-3294 and enter the access code 433706.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am going to prepare some more materials for us like I did in the last session, and I will be sending them out soon.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is a link to the bill text for any who want to read it:
<a href="https://www.cga.ct.gov/2016/TOB/s/2016SB-00035-R00-SB.htm">https://www.cga.ct.gov/2016/TOB/s/2016SB-00035-R00-SB.htm</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!<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">Legislative Coordinator<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Justin Salisbury, NOMC, NCUEB<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Master of Arts Candidate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Louisiana Tech University<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Email: <a href="mailto:President@Alumni.ECU.edu">
President@Alumni.ECU.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=325734822">
https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=325734822</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Twitter: @SalisburyJustin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"None can be free as long as any are enslaved" <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dr. Kenneth Jernigan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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