[NFBMT] 2020 Presidential Primary Candidate Survey on Disability

Fri Oct 25 20:25:15 UTC 2019

What Steve Bullock said is accurate, but Montana's shift to competitive
wages happened because the federal government now requires all vocational
rehabilitation agencies to use their funding only for competitive integrated
employment.  If a client wants to work for sub-minimum wages or in a
segregated work environment, federal rules require VR to close the client's
case.  Montana has done very little regarding sub-minimum wages insofar as
the Medicaid employment programs go.  That's why we adopted a resolution to
push Medicaid employment programs down the path VR has already taken.  There
really is no excuse for sub-minimum wages for workers with disabilities
these days.  The segregated work part is a tougher nut to crack.  That's
because some segregated disability programs pay pretty well, and many
parents of people with disabilities believe their adult children are safer
out of community employment.  Parent attitudes are changing, though.

Jim Marks
President
National Federation of the Blind of Montana
(406) 438-1421
president at nfbofmt.org
www.nfbofmt.org

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rik James via
NFBMT
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2019 2:00 PM
To: 'NFB of Montana Discussion List' <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Rik James <rixmix2009 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBMT] 2020 Presidential Primary Candidate Survey on
Disability

Yes, it sure as heck is interesting, Sheila.
I hope that we do share our views and with each other, what we notice about
these positions taken by candidates. And then, in turn, ask each of them, to
take positions that we each, and collectively as a movement, ask them to
follow.

I appreciate that you posted this to the list, Joy. Thank you!

And in case anyone did NOT happen to read down far enough in the post.  I
paste one position I was very pleased to read.

Steve Bullock, Governor  of Montana
I support eliminating the subminimum wage. It my priority to ensure
competitive integrated employment for all individuals with disabilities.
increasing job training opportunities for people with disabilities. In
Montana, we have worked hard to substantially reduce subminimum wage
employment by more than 40% since the passage of the WIOA. Further, I would
work to increase funding for career opportunities through state partnerships
to ensure that there are more workplace opportunities for people with
disabilities.

Was that all true, to your own personal knowledge?

Now, taking it to 2020. If you all are paying much attention yet to
campaigns.  I am getting emails asking for money, sure. There are several
individuals who have announced their interest in being our next governor of
Montana.
And guess which of these candidates will take opposite positions of Mr.
Bullock? And which of them would actually reverse some of the policies that
he had set while serving as the Governor of Montana.
Boy, I will, for one, be most displeased to see some of them get anywhere
near the governor's office.

The vote. The citizen. The facts. The stated positions, and then, the
actions taken. 
The outcomes of thinking things through. It is a complicated world.

I happened to have been able to listen to the entire funeral service today
on C-SPAN of the Congressman Elijah Cummings.
Wow, it was moving. I had a few choked up moments, I have to admit. I
imagine it will be repeated over the weekend, if you are interestd. And of
course C-SPAN is great for having most everything available online.
There were some very good words. I think he was one of the best I ever
heard. Right there in Baltimore, too.

Rik James
President, your Treasure State chapter.

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT <nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER via
NFBMT
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2019 5:25 AM
To: nfbmt <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
Cc: BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER <breslauerj at gmail.com>
Subject: [NFBMT] 2020 Presidential Primary Candidate Survey on Disability

I found this interesting, and thought you might, too.  It is encouraging to
me, at least, whether or not it actually turns into anything concrete which,
of course, I hope it does.  Joy 

From: NFB Legislative Directors On Behalf Of Justin Salisbury 

Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2019 11:19 PM
Subject: 2020 Presidential Primary Candidate Survey on Disability

Aloha Colleagues,

I'm wondering if we have, at any level of our movement, been talking to the
presidential campaigns about our legislative priorities. I have been doing
it a little bit, just in the course of talking to the campaigns like I
would, anyway. Are we making any kind of coordinated effort to do that?

I notice that some of the campaigns have been taking stances on issues like
subminimum wages, and it occurs to me that some of these candidates are
currently in positions to do something about it. For example, the Mayor of
South Bend, Indiana, might be able to do something to restrict the practice
in his city. Maybe that city sets its own minimum wage and could include us
in it, like what happened in Seattle. Maybe he could use executive power to
make it harder for the 14c certificate-holding entities to get funding from
the city. Maybe his administration could make a push to divest city funding
from anyone holding a 14c certificate. That's only one example, but we might
be able to get them to do things right now to show their support. 

Are we working on that?

I notice some really great coverage through a candidate survey performed by
the Disability Rights Center in New Hampshire. The results are posted here:
https://drcnh.org/2020-presidential-candidate-survey/

We find content like this:

Employment: What are your views on paying a subminimum wage based on
disability?

Michael Bennett, US Senator from Colorado

Oppose. Michael does not support paying a subminimum wage based on
disability.

Cory Booker, US Senator from New Jersey

Anyone who wants to work should be able to do so, in a job that pays a
living wage and offers meaningful benefits. That's why I'm a co-sponsor of
the Raise the Wage Act, which would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an
hour, and phase out subminimum wages for workers with disabilities, as well
as for tipped workers and youth workers.

Steve Bullock, Governor  of Montana 

I support eliminating the subminimum wage. It my priority to ensure
competitive integrated employment for all individuals with disabilities.
increasing job training opportunities for people with disabilities. In
Montana, we have worked hard to substantially reduce subminimum wage
employment by more than 40% since the passage of the WIOA. Further, I would
work to increase funding for career opportunities through state partnerships
to ensure that there are more workplace opportunities for people with
disabilities. 

Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend, Indiana

I support repealing Section 14c of the Fair Labor Standards Act. No one in
the United States should be exempted from minimum wage laws. This practice
is indefensible. In office, my priorities will include increasing
opportunities for competitive integrated employment and ensuring that
federal agencies are fully committed to the employment of veterans with
disabilities.

The list goes on, but I just took the first few in alphabetical order. In
case anyone thinks I'm supporting a particular candidate, I'll note that I
haven't picked one yet. 

I know that the work someone does in their existing office is technically
separate from the campaign for president, but I am hopeful that the
candidates believe 24/7 in these values that they express on the
presidential campaign trail. 

Mahalo,

Justin

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