[NFBMT] Message from Rep. Gianforte

Wed Feb 21 01:55:08 UTC 2018

I don't consider it white noise either, but I know that group viewpointss are
sometimes looked on as white noise by others, whereas individuals are not.  I
can't think of anything more riveting than the testimony on the house floor
opposing H.R. 620.  If that didn't work, what will?  Yes, I'm getting angry
and discouraged.  Look at the activism of the Lakeland high school students.
I can't think of a better reason to be galvanized for a cause than theirs.
And they are not even being listened to.  When are the comfortable adults
among us who supposedly have brains and were elected to use them going to get
off their fannies and actually do something besides argue and be partisan and
tear down the good work of others?

I have a world view that may not be very popular, but if I am silenced,
that's one voice less that will be heard.  I have been watching a series on
the Patty Hearst kidnapping and how that didn't even solve the problems they
wanted to address.  The fact that we are a minority doesn't give someone else
the right to run over us like a steam roller and squash us into oblivion just
because they disagree with us.  The common denominator for me is what is in
someone's heart.  Do they treat others the way they would like to be treated?
There is such a thing as right and wrong, truth and lies, something you can
take to the bank and something you can compromise on, something you can let
go and something that is the hill you would die on if necessary.  I don't
think we all have to agree, but I do think we should respect each others'
civil rights and do what we can to uphold them.  I feel right now like mine
are being severely disrespected, and I'm not willing to take it lying down.
I might go down, but I'll go down shouting at the top of my lungs and
wielding the most effective weapon I can find.  I think I need spring to
come.  I usually don't voice my opinions much on these lists, and I probably
shouldn't now, but I feel like am under siege.

I'll go take a bubble bath now.

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jim Marks via
NFBMT
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2018 6:03 PM
To: 'NFB of Montana Discussion List' <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jim Marks <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBMT] Message from Rep. Gianforte

I won't give Gianforte the benefit of the doubt.  His position on HR 620 is
not OK.  He's merely jumping on a band wagon that empowers a few and takes
away power from most, and facts just won't matter to him.  His
loophole/frivolous lawsuit justifications merit no respect.  The only way we
can convince others is by our relentless advocacy for the rights of blind and
other people with disabilities.  We have to speak up and tell our stories
over and over again.  As they say, all it takes for evil to thrive is for
good people to do nothing.  To some, I suppose this advocacy can be labeled
as white noise.  I don't think of it that way.  Rather, I think  of it as a
vulnerable minority trying to assert its self-determination.  The ADA
provides some solid protections, but HR 620 will diminish the protections for
people with disabilities and grant employers and businesses the power to
discriminate more freely.  There is a pattern to Gianforte's imaginary
position on the ADA, and that pattern is little to no concern for others.
Let's face it.  Money just doesn't talk; it screams.

Jim Marks
Blind.grizzly at gmail.com
(406) 438-1421

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of BRUCE&JOY
BRESLAUER via NFBMT
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2018 5:26 PM
To: 'NFB of Montana Discussion List' <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
Cc: BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER <breslauerj at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBMT] Message from Rep. Gianforte

How can we convince the proponents of the ADA Education and Reform Act that
our stand is not just more white noise?  The proponents seem to think they
are closing a loophole in the ADA that allows these drive-by lawsuits to
occur, which are crippling business owners.  If each side is armed with their
own set of facts, how can they be convinced that our set of facts is more
factual than their set of facts, and that our facts are not just alternative
facts?  I don't know that they have time or take time to really study the
issue.  If this passes both houses, it will be a huge loss for those of us
with disabilities.  I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I hope there
is something we can do that will make a meaningful difference and not just
raise the level of white noise to a louder crescendo,.

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jim Marks via
NFBMT
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2018 3:48 PM
To: 'NFB of Montana Discussion List' <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jim Marks <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBMT] Message from Rep. Gianforte

I'd like to see Gianforte come up with a single example of frivolous lawsuits
in Montana.  At the same time, it would be easy to come up with multiple
concrete examples of disability discrimination in our great state.
Gianforte's position has nothing to do with what's really going on.  Rather,
he's pushing an agenda that empowers a few, obscures and misuses fact,
marginalizes minorities, and generally takes us backwards when it comes to
civil rights protections for Montanans with disabilities. I wish we could
have leaders who do right by the people and who stay away from political
ideologies that stray from truth and principle.  I am deeply worried about
the future and the strong probability that blind Montanans will be stripped
of our protections and opportunities.

Jim Marks
Blind.grizzly at gmail.com
(406) 438-1421

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sheila via NFBMT
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2018 11:37 AM
To: rjaquiss at earthlink.net; 'NFB of Montana Discussion List'
<nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Sheila <sheila.leigland at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBMT] Message from Rep. Gianforte

Hmmm I find this post interesting.

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of rjaquiss via NFBMT
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2018 10:12 AM
To: nfbmt at nfbnet.org
Cc: rjaquiss <rjaquiss at earthlink.net>
Subject: [NFBMT] Message from Rep. Gianforte

Hello:

     I received the following message from Rep. Gianforte regarding HR620. I
thought you would find it of interest.

Regards,

Robert

Robert Jaquiss, Affiliate secretary

From: Congressman Greg Gianforte [mailto:MT00ggima at mail.house.gov]
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2018 10:58 AM
To: rjaquiss at earthlink.net
Subject: Responding to your message

>From the Office of Rep. Gianforte

<https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/Customers/MT00GG/MT00_Letterhea
d_640x177px.png>

February 15, 2018

Dear Mr. Jaquiss,

Thank you for contacting me about H.R.620, the ADA Education and Reform Act.
I appreciate your comments on this issue. Your input is important to me.

The way the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is currently written, there
is a loophole that allows for lawyers to generate lawsuits against property
owners for minor infractions. This loophole grants attorney's fees to the
plaintiffs pursuing various claims, which are often used for the sole purpose
of getting a settlement from the property owners. In 2013 alone
2,722 ADA Title III Lawsuits were filed in Federal Courts. Three years later
the number of lawsuits had more than doubled to 6,601 lawsuits per year.

On January 24, 2017, Representative Ted Poe (R-TX) introduced H.R. 620. This
bill closes loopholes in the ADA by requiring a plaintiff to give specific
notice to the property owner about alleged violation so they know what must
be fixed. This legislation allows property owners up to 120 days to fix the
alleged ADA violation before the clock starts running on attorney fees.
These frivolous lawsuits have been hurting small business across the country.
The ADA provides important protections for the disabled, but should not
become a tool for trial lawyers and serial litigants. On February 15, 2017, I
voted with the House to pass H.R. 620. This legislation now awaits further
action from the Senate.

Thank you again for getting in touch. Hearing from you and other Montanans
allows me to better understand your perspective. As your representative in
Congress, I will continue to rely on your views to be a strong voice for
Montana. I invite you to visit my website at gianforte.house.gov to sign up
for my newsletter, learn more about current legislation, and see what I am
working on for Montana. If I can help you or your family, please contact me.

Sincerely,

<https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/Customers/MT00GG/Gianforte_sign
ature_200x70.JPG>
Greg Gianforte
Member of Congress

<https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/Customers/MT00GG/iqtrk.gif?crop
=14195QQQ6052210QQQ5108764QQQ7122754>

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