[nabs-l] Oregonians Beware!

Jedi loneblindjedi at samobile.net
Sat May 16 18:26:04 UTC 2009 

Joseph,

I'm aware of that. I'm also worried that this sort of foolish cutting 
will continue throughout the country. Luckily, Washington State is 
doing okay in terms of its blind, but I heard from a democrat colleague 
of mine that other disability services are being thrown on the chopping 
block to the point where seriously disabled persons might be at risk. 
He said that Washington State legislators were so frantic to cut nine 
million dollars that, apparently, they didn't stop to really consider 
each cut. Every testamonial they heard from citizens basically said 
"Don't cut my program." I even heard that one State legislator was in 
tears over all of it.

It seems to me that dramatically cutting disability programs of any 
kind go against Obama's health care, economic, and education policies. 
I also know that Obama's got disability closer to his heart than most 
Presidents. Wouldn't it be great if we could somehow get him to write a 
short memo reminding state governments to be wiser about how they cut 
the money? How would we go about getting him to make such an urging? 
How can we use our existing political resources at the Federation to 
make this happen? I'm up for ideas.

Respectfully,
Jedi

Original message:
> Jedi,

> It's not just the Commission.

> They've voted to close the Oregon School for the Blind and send all
> blind students back to the districts.

> Then they voted to reduce the number of Educational Service Districts
> to about half.

> Now they want to close the Commission.

> They admit none of these things will save a dime.  In fact, they'll
> probably cost more.  But they're doing it anyway.

> Joseph


> On Sat, May 16, 2009 at 12:46:23AM -0400, Jedi wrote:
>> Listers:

>> Those of you from Oregon need to take this alert under advisement. The
>> Oregon State Legislature has already closed down your school for the
>> blind. be damn sure they don't close your agency, too.

>> Respectfully,
>> Jedi

>> --
>> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
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>> Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 20:37:14 -0700
>> From: Michael Hooks <michaelhooks at nextlevelat.com>
>> Subject: [nfbwatlk] ACTION ALERT: NOTICE OF POTENTIAL CLOSURE OF THE OREGON
>>       COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND
>> To: "'TOVI: Administrative Question'" <tovi at wsdsonline.org>
>> Cc: nfb-hi at nfbnet.org, nfb-or at nfbnet.org, nfb-idaho at nfbnet.org,
>>       nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>> X-Spam-Level: **
>> Message-ID: <001401c9d5d7$9be0dda0$d3a298e0$@com>


>> ACTION ALERT:  NOTICE OF POTENTIAL CLOSURE OF THE OREGON COMMISSION FOR THE
>> BLIND


>> The Oregon Commission for the Blind was informed by Governor Kulongoski’s
>> office on Friday, May 15, 2009 that he is recommending that the Commission
>> for the Blind be "suspended" as a result of the economic crisis.  This would
>> mean that the agency would cease to operate effective July 1, 2009 and the
>> services we provide would somehow be integrated into other programs within
>> state government.

>> We believe that this is not a cost effective decision and that the services
>> that the agency provides to blind Oregonians are at great risk if this
>> recommendation is carried out.  The Oregon Legislature will be making the
>> final decision as to whether or not to continue the Commission for the
>> Blind.

>> The agency provides specialized vocational rehabilitation and independent
>> living services to individuals who are blind.  It is the only organization
>> in Oregon which provides these services.

>> Only 11% of the agency budget is provided by state general fund used to
>> match federal grants. This represents less than ½ of 1% of the total state
>> general/lottery fund budget.

>> Agency services are cost effective.  Successfully employed agency clients
>> pay back the state investment of their rehabilitation program in less than
>> 16 months through their tax contributions and create savings in other
>> programs such as the Oregon Health Plan and other forms of public
>> assistance.

>> The older blind independent living program helps seniors live independently
>> after vision loss and prevents or prolongs the need for seniors to enter
>> into assisted living or nursing homes.  Delaying the need for this care by
>> even one year can save the state $36,000-$68,000 per individual.


>> The agency felt that it is imperative that we share this information with
>> all interested parties so that they can contact the legislature as soon as
>> possible.  Contacts should be made immediately with the Ways and Means Human
>> Services Sub-committee and the Full Ways and Means Committee as a decision
>> could be made within the week.  Included is a contact list for your
>> information.

>> The following contains a list of members of the full committee and
>> subcommittee on Human Services.  Following on subsequent pages is the
>> contact information for each committee member.
>> Ways and Means Full Committee Membership:
>> Sen. Margaret Carter, Co-Chair
>> Rep. Peter Buckley, Co-Chair
>> Sen. Betsy Johnson, Vice-Chair
>> Rep. Nancy Nathanson, Vice-Chair
>> Sen. Alan C Bates
>> Sen. Fred Girod
>> Sen. Rod Monroe
>> Sen. David Nelson
>> Sen. Joanne Verger
>> Sen. Vicki L Walker
>> Sen. Doug Whitsett
>> Sen. Jackie Winters
>> Rep. David Edwards
>> Rep. Larry Galizio
>> Rep. Bill Garrard
>> Rep. George Gilman
>> Rep. Bob Jenson
>> Rep. Betty Komp
>> Rep. Tina Kotek
>> Rep. Dennis Richardson
>> Rep. Chip Shields
>> Rep. Greg Smith


>>    Human Services Subcommittee Membership:
>>           Sen. Alan C Bates, Co-Chair
>>           Rep. Tina Kotek, Co-Chair
>>           Sen. Margaret Carter
>>           Sen. Jackie Winters
>>           Rep. Mitch Greenlick
>>           Rep. Bill Kennemer
>>           Rep. Dennis Richardson
>>           Rep. Carolyn Tomei
>> Senator Alan C Bates
>> Party: D  District: 3
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-205, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:sen.alanbates at state.or.us> sen.alanbates at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/bates>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/bates

>> Representative Peter Buckley
>> Party: D  District: 5
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1405
>> Interim Phone: 541-488-9180
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-286, Salem,, OR, 97301
>> Interim Address: 71 Dewey Street , Ashland, OR, 97520
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.peterbuckley at state.or.us> reppeterbuckley at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/buckley>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/buckley

>> Senator Margaret Carter
>> Party: D  District: 22
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
>> Interim Phone: 503-282-6846
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-209, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Interim Address: PO Box 3722, Portland, OR, 97208
>> Email:  <mailto:sen.margaretcarter at state.or.us>
>> sen.margaretcarter at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/carter>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/carter





>> Representative David Edwards
>> <http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
>> member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
>> Party: D  District: 30
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-384, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.davidedwards at state.or.us> rep.davidedwards at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/edwardsd>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/edwardsd

>> Representative Larry Galizio
>> Party: D  District: 35
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1435
>> Interim Phone: 503-350-0804
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-282, Salem,, OR, 97301
>> Interim Address: P.O. Box 231161, Tigard, OR, 97281
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.larrygalizio at state.or.us> rep.larrygalizio at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/galizio>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/galizio


>> Representative Bill Garrard
>> <http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
>> member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
>> Party: R  District: 56
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1456
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-480, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.billgarrard at state.or.us> rep.billgarrard at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/garrard>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/garrard

>> Representative George Gilman
>> Party: R  District: 55
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1455
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-493, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.georgegilman at state.or.us> rep.georgegilman at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/gilman>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/gilman

>> Senator Fred Girod
>> <http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
>> member-type=senator&sort-by=district#top>
>> Party: R  District: 9
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1709
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-421, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:sen.fredgirod at state.or.us> sen.fredgirod at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/girod>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/girod


>> Representative Mitch Greenlick
>> <http://www.leg.stateor.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&m
>> ember-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
>> Party: D  District: 33
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1433
>> Interim Phone: 503-297-2416
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-492, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Interim Address: 712 NW Spring Ave., Portland, OR, 97229
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.mitchgreenlick at state.or.us>
>> rep.mitchgreenlick at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/greenlick>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/greenlick

>> Representative Bob Jenson
>> <http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
>> member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
>> Party: R  District: 58
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1458
>> Interim Phone: 541-276-5821
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-481, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Interim Address: 2126 N. W. Despain Ave., Pendleton, OR, 97801
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.bobjenson at state.or.us> rep.bobjenson at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/jenson>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/jenson


>> Senator Betsy Johnson
>> Party: D  District: 16
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1716
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-215, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:sen.betsyjohnson at state.or.us> sen.betsyjohnson at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/johnson>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/johnson

>> Representative Bill Kennemer
>> <http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
>> member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
>> Party: R  District: 39
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1439
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-380, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.billkennemer at state.or.us> rep.billkennemer at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/kennemer>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/kennemer

>> Representative Betty  Komp
>> Party: D  District: 22
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1422
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-273, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.bettykomp at state.or.us> rep.bettykomp at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/komp> http://www.leg.state.or.us/komp

>> Representative Tina Kotek
>> <http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
>> member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
>> Party: D  District: 44
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1444
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-281, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.tinakotek at state.or.us> rep.tinakotek at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/kotek>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/kotek

>> Senator Rod Monroe
>> <http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
>> member-type=senator&sort-by=district#top>
>> Party: D  District: 24
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1724
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-409, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:sen.rodmonroe at state.or.us> sen.rodmonroe at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/monroe>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/monroe

>> Representative Nancy Nathanson
>> Party: D  District: 13
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1413
>> Interim Phone: 541-343-2206
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-280, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Interim Address: PO Box 41895, Eugene, OR, 97404
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.nancynathanson at state.or.us>
>> rep.nancynathanson at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/nathanson>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/nathanson

>> Senator David Nelson
>> Party: R  District: 29
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1729
>> Interim Phone: 541-278-2332
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-211, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Interim Address: 1407 NW Horn Ave., Pendleton, OR, 97801
>> Email:  <mailto:sen.davidnelson at state.or.us> sen.davidnelson at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/nelson_david>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/nelson_david

>> Representative Dennis Richardson
>> <http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
>> member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
>> Party: R  District: 4
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1404
>> Interim Phone: 541-601-0083
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-373, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Interim Address: 55 South 5th St., Central Point, OR, 97502
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.dennisrichardson at state.or.us>
>> rep.dennisrichardson at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/richardson>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/richardson

>> Representative Chip Shields
>> Party: D  District: 43
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1443
>> Interim Phone: 503-231-2564
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-276, Salem,, OR, 97301
>> Interim Address: 5313 N. Vancouver Ave., Portland, OR, 97217
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.chipshields at state.or.us> rep.chipshields at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/shieldsc>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/shieldsc

>> Representative Greg Smith
>> Party: R  District: 57
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1457
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-482, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.gregsmith at state.or.us> rep.gregsmith at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/smithg>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/smithg

>> Representative Carolyn Tomei
>> Party: D  District: 41
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1441
>> Interim Phone: 503-653-5180
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-279, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Interim Address: 11907 SE 19th Ave., Milwaukie, OR, 97222
>> Email:  <mailto:rep.carolyntomei at state.or.us> rep.carolyntomei at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/tomei>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/tomei

>> Senator Joanne Verger
>> Party: D  District: 5
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1705
>> Interim Phone: 541-756-4140
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-401, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Interim Address: 3696 Broadway PMB 344, North Bend, OR, 97459
>> Email:  <mailto:sen.joanneverger at state.or.us> sen.joanneverger at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/verger>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/verger





>> Senator Vicki L Walker
>> Party: D  District: 7
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1707
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-309, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:sen.vickiwalker at state.or.us> sen.vickiwalker at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/walker>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/walker

>> Senator Doug Whitsett
>> Party: R  District: 28
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728
>> Interim Phone: 541-882-1315
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE., S-303, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Interim Address: 23131 North Poe Valley Rd., Klamath Falls, OR, 97603
>> Email:  <mailto:sen.dougwhitsett at state.or.us> sen.dougwhitsett at state.or.us
>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett

>> Senator Jackie Winters
>> <http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
>> member-type=senator&sort-by=district#top>
>> Party: R  District: 10
>> Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710
>> Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-301, Salem, OR, 97301
>> Email:  <mailto:sen.jackiewinters at state.or.us> sen.jackiewinters at state.or.us

>> Website:  <http://www.leg.state.or.us/winters>
>> http://www.leg.state.or.us/winters




>> Michael P. Hooks,  M.S. Ed.
>> Next Level Assistive Technology
>> 12811 NW 29th ct
>> Vancouver, WA 98685
>> 360.281.5153 (voice)
>> 360.397.0491 (Fax)
>> <http://www.nextlevelat.com> www.nextlevelat.com

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-- 
REspectfully,
Jedi

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