[nabs-l] Governor Sacrifices the Blind for Short Term Politics

[T. Joseph Carter]

Ashley,

We've had outcries from both NFB and ACB here in Oregon, but we've 
also had some objection from the ACB over the NFB's supposed attack 
on the Commission leadership.

It's made the local news that an audit has surfaced with pretty major 
misuses of taxpayer dollars.  Things like a biking trip that cost 
$61,000 and was attended by 17 employees, 2 clients, and some 
volunteers.  The governor was furious.  Two days later, he's calling 
for closure of the Commission.

You'll read in the press release NFBO put out:

The final blow was delivered Friday, May 15th, when Governor 
Kulongoski proposed total abolition of the Oregon Commission for the 
Blind, which currently provides job training and rehabilitation to 
blind adults and seniors.  In his attempt to cover up his own lack of 
oversight of administrative misjudgments by his appointees who run 
the Commission, the Governor sacrifices the quality of life and 
future potential of the blind of Oregon.

There's an attack in there all right, directed at the governor of the 
state.  The misjudgments are a matter of public record at this point, 
so there is no question that they happened.  The question is what is 
the governor suggesting be done about it.

Generally speaking, though, we are working together on this, because 
we know that while we need to fix some problems in the Commission, we 
can't do that unless we've got one to fix.

Joseph


On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 07:32:45PM -0400, Ashley  Bramlett wrote:
> That's right.  IF  they tried it in virginia there would be outcries from 
> both organizations to prevent it.
>
> Ashley
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "clinton waterbury" 
> <clinton.waterbury at gmail.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"  
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 5:58 AM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Governor Sacrifices the Blind for Short Term Politics
>
>
>> The fact that the state of Origon is doing this is a load of...   
>> well... Bull!  Who in their right mind would do this?  If they did  
>> something like that in Utah, there would be blood so to speak!  People  
>> from both organizations would turn around and flat out rip into the  
>> legeslature for it!
>> On May 18, 2009, at 11:29 PM, Kevin Wassmer wrote:
>>
>>> I'm supised that Marc Mower hasn't talked publicly about this.
>>> "You say, Son, let's forget the past,
>>> I want another chance, gonna make it last.
>>> You're begging me for a brand new start,
>>> trying to mend a bridge that's been blown apart,
>>> but you know... you never built it dad." (Queensryche