[nfbmi-talk] Fw: FOIA Response to Request for Information on SSA Reimbursements

[joe harcz Comcast]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: joe harcz Comcast 
To: Haynes, Carla (LARA) 
Sent: Friday, November 15, 2013 5:28 PM
Subject: Re: FOIA Response to Request for Information on SSA Reimbursements


So am I to understand that BSBP did not claim any reimbursement for successful closures in the past fiscal year? This is a very simple question Ms. Haynes and all.

Am I further to understand that you don't have records related to this? Is this because BSBP didn't meet criterion for SSA reimbursement because it is an utter failure in developing gainful employment for blind people in Michigan? Or does it mean BSBP did its job but some clowns didn't seek the reimbursement or what?

Or does this mean BSBP sought reimbursement and you and the agency are outright lying to me?

Or does this mean that BSBP cannot understand simple English and answer a simple question directly about its performance or lack thereof?

Ms. Haynes et al it is very simple here and even this blind citizen can understand this point:

The primary mission of BSBP is to enable people who are blind to garner substantial and gainful employment. BSBP if it does its job can get people off from SSI and even SSDI roles. Then if it does its job it can get reimbursed as "matching income" by SSA for well...Doing its job...

Further I must add that if I find through other avenues you did have these records and reports including submissions to RSA and SSA then you as a public official are in a simple word lying to me and to the public and obfiscating the issue with these bogus FOIA responses. Both are effectively not just civil offenses but also violations of the federal "False Statements Act" and of state and federal "Quai Tam" provisions in law.

Be assured this will be sent to the real problems including Mr. Rodgers, Mr. Arwood, and Mr. Zimmer.

(Oh yes and they will be sent to the auditor general's office, the RSA and the Inspector General's Offices at both the United States Department of Education and the Social Security Administration.)

The latter might well be interested in this and other responses to requests for information.

Have a nice day and a nice weekend.

Sincerely,

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

So here again I ask simply: "Did BSBP do its job or what?"

Sincerely,

Joe Harcz


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Haynes, Carla (LARA) 
  To: joe harcz Comcast 
  Cc: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) ; Luzenski, Sue (LARA) ; Pemble, Mike (LARA) ; Belknap, Katie (LARA) ; Duell, Elsie (LARA) 
  Sent: Friday, November 15, 2013 5:02 PM
  Subject: FOIA Response to Request for Information on SSA Reimbursements


  November 15, 2013

   

  Mr. Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

  E-mail: joeharcz at comcast.net

  1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

  Mt. Morris, MI 48458

   

  Re:  FOIA Response to Request for Information on SSA Reimbursements for FY13

   

  Dear Mr. Harcz, Jr.:

   

  This email is in response to your October 24, 2013, email request for information, received by this office on October 25, 2013.  Please be advised that the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) is processing this request under the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.  An extension was taken on this request through November 15, 2013, on November 1, 2013.

   

  You have requested information as described in your email (also included below) as:

   

  "I am writing you all today to request just how much BSBP was reimbursed last FY by SSA for successful closures."

   

  Your request is denied.  To the best of my information, knowledge or belief, no records exist within the BSBP pertinent to your request.

   

  Under MCL 15.240 of the FOIA you may (1) submit a written appeal regarding the denial of any portion of your FOIA request to Mr. Steve Arwood, Director, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs: Attention, Mike Zimmer, Chief Deputy Director, Ottawa Building,

   

  FOIA Response - P.J. Harcz, Jr.

  November 15, 2013

  Page 2 of 2

   

   

   

  4th Floor, P.O. Box 30004, Lansing, MI 48909. Your appeal notice must 

  include the word "appeal" and state the reason(s) for reversal of the 

  denial(s); or (2) you may seek judicial review in circuit court within 180 days of the Department's final determination. If you prevail in such action, the court may award reasonable attorney fees, costs, and disbursements. If the court finds the Department's actions to be arbitrary and capricious, the court, in addition to any actual or compensatory damages, shall award punitive damages in the amount of $500.00.

   

  Sincerely,

   

   

  Carla Miller Haynes, FOIA Coordinator

  Bureau of Services for Blind Persons

   

  Attachment:  Email Request for Information

   

  cc:     Edward F. Rodgers II

            Sue Luzenski

            Mike Pemble

  Katie Belknap

            Elsie Duell

            Leamon Jones

   



  From: joe harcz Comcast [mailto:joeharcz at comcast.net]  

  Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2013 3:52 PM 

  To: Rodgers, Edward (LARA) 

  Cc: Zimmer, Mike (LARA); BSBPcommissioners; nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org; Christyne.Cavataio at ed.gov; 

  BRIAN SABOURIN; Elmer Cerano (E-mail); MARK MCWILLIAMS; Marlene Malloy 

  Subject: ssa reimbursement and state plan info

   

  October 24 2013 to Rodgers SSA Reimbursement and State Plan Info

   

   

  Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

  1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

  Mt. Morris, MI 48458

  joeharcz at comcast.net

  810-516-5262

   

  To: Edward Rodgers, BSBP

  S. Michael Zimmer, LARA DSA

  (Via E-mail)

   

   

  Sirs,

   

  I am writing you all today to request just how much BSBP was reimbursed last FY by SSA for successful closures. Now, as you might know data like this is required to be in public reports which you've both denied me in public including an accessible copy of the State Plan Supplement.

   

  So give it up, without charge and in accessible format and/or post this information to the BSBP web site as Mr. Rodgers said was done in public but, in fact is not done to date.

   

  Failure to remit this information in a timely and accessible manner and/or abusing the FOIA as you've done in the past is actionable and will be further evidence of your chronic, pervasive and malicious violations in documented fashion of my and, indeed all blind persons civil rights.

   

  Sincerely,

   

  Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

   

  Cc: BSBP

  Cc: RSA

  Cc: MPAS

  Cc: NFB MI

  Cc: several media, legislators, and attorneys at law

  810-516-5262

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Carla Miller Haynes

  LARA Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP)

  201 N. Washington Square, 2nd Floor

  P.O. Box 30652

  Lansing, MI  48909

  Telephone:  517-373-2063 or Toll-Free 1-800-292-4200

  Fax:  517-335-5140

   

  www.michigan.gov/bsbp