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Hello list,<br>
<br>
This message comes from the National Association of Blind Merchants,
several members of which now belong to the National Federation of
the Blind of Illinois. The legislation referred to in this message
will adversely effect businesses currently being operated by blind
vendors throughout Illinois, who would find themselves competing
against large corporations to operate businesses Illinois would be
unable or unwilling to assist in starting up. These vendors could
have businesses they have spent years building up yanked out from
under them, in a program where opportunities for replacement
facilities are limited.<br>
<br>
I am asking that you consider supporting blind vendors in Illinois
and throughout the country by informing Senator Derbin of the
consequences this amendment will have for those who can't easily
find other work. So long as unemployment among working-age blind
remains near 70 %, these rest stop opportunities are essential. <br>
<br>
Cordially,<br>
Bill Reif<br>
<br>
<br>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Subject: </th>
<td>Fw: Urgent Alert: Portman Amendment Likely Headed to
Senate Floor</td>
</tr>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Date: </th>
<td>Tue, 6 Mar 2012 13:54:16 -0800 (PST)</td>
</tr>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">From: </th>
<td>John Gordon <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:icbv@sbcglobal.net"><icbv@sbcglobal.net></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">To: </th>
<td>John P Gordon <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:icbv@sbcglobal.net"><icbv@sbcglobal.net></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
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<div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14pt">
<div>I will be including some of this in the Office Update but
thought I better get this out right away. (see below)<br>
</div>
Thank you, <br>
<br>
<div>John Gordon<br>
Chairman; Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors<br>
53 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 502<br>
Chicago, IL 60604<br>
(312)663-3007</div>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div>
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;
FONT-SIZE: 14pt">
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times,
serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><b><span
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</span></b> Sean Whalen
</font></div>
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times,
serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><b><span
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</span></b> Tue, March
6, 2012 3:36:47 PM<br>
<b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</span></b> FW:
Urgent Alert: Portman Amendment Likely Headed to Senate
Floor<br>
</font><br>
</div>
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<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times,
serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">Here is
the most recent NCSAB alert on the Portman amendment. It
is almost certain that the amendment is headed for a
floor vote in the Senate.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">Thanks,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">Sean</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good afternoon,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Earlier this afternoon the Senate voted
52 yeas to 44 nays not to move to a vote on final passage
of S. 1813 (60 votes are required on such a motion).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This means that the only feasible path
forward on this must-pass bill is through a unanimous
consent agreement reached by Senate leadership on which
amendments will be allowed to be considered. As mentioned
in an earlier update, Majority and Minority Leaders Reid
and McConnell continue to negotiate the final package of
amendments for consideration. Just before today's vote,
Senator McConnell made a unanimous consent request, laying
out the particular amendments that the Republicans want to
get votes on. Portman #1742 to commercialize rest areas
was among those listed by McConnell. This means that
Republican leadership in the Senate will push for a vote
on Senator Portman's amendment as part of the ultimate
agreement.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is extremely likely that each and
every United States Senator will be asked to vote on
whether or not to allow rest area commercialization when
amendments are considered; possibly as early as tomorrow
(Wednesday), and almost certainly this week.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have once again attached a letter,
written in non-lobbying terms, that SLAs can send to their
Senators. I have also attached a spreadsheet with the
transportation staffers in each Senate office to enable
you to communicate concerns directly to the appropriate
individual in each office.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please contact your Senators, and
please pass this message along to your elected committees
of blind vendors and you state consumer organizations of
the blind and urge them to do the same.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is absolutely vital that every U.S.
Senator is aware of the devastating impact on
Randolph-Sheppard entrepreneurs, and the small family
businesses they manage, of highway rest area
commercialization. The time to have our voice heard on
this issue is now!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All Senate offices can be reached via
telephone through the Capitol switchboard at (202)
225-3121.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please let me know if you have any
questions or require assistance.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, as always, thank you all for your
tireless work to preserve business opportunities for the
blind of America.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sean</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sean Whalen</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Policy Associate</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Linchpin Strategies, LLC</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
</div>
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