[NFBMT] Message from Rep. Gianforte

Thu Feb 22 01:52:07 UTC 2018

The truth is our efforts, especially in Washington last month, may
have made the vote closer than it might. Yes, 12  Democrats voted for
it, but lots of others might have to if not for our efforts in DC.
Further, about the same number of Republicans voted against it, which
ten or so Reps were absent that day. In other words, it was very, very
close when it was thought to be a foregone conclusion.

I know that in the meeting with my Colorado Congressman, who was a
cosponsor, he was visibly rattled at our firm but polite challenge of
his reasoning.

In the Senate there will have to be 60 votes to end debate if the bill
is even introduced, and ever passes out of its committee.  With the
same effort we can turn this back. Montana has to make sure that Jon
Tester knows it's bad legislation - never take a vote for granted. And
then really lean on Steve Daines and make it uncomfortable for him to
make that vote.

BTW, most of these lawsuits have been filed in the states where state
law - not the ADA - allows for damages. Those are in Florida, Texas
and California. HR620 won't even fix the real problem, if it is real.

Don't give up!

Dan

On 2/21/18, Jim Marks via NFBMT <nfbmt at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I couldn't agree with you more, and I'm so glad you're at the helm of the
> NFB-MT.  We just have to keep at it, is all.
>
>
> 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 6:55 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
>
> 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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-- 
Dan Burke
President, NFB of Denver

"Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"
My Cell:  406.546.8546
Twitter:  @DallDonal