[nabs-l] ACTION ALERT: NOTICE OF POTENTIAL CLOSURE OF THE OREGON COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND

Sat May 16 21:30:45 UTC 2009

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