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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>The message below was sent to Representative Mulredy regarding HB 2230 today with a copy to the entire House of Representatives. As with HB 1861, please e-mail, leve messages, post and share to social media. Push, push, push back my blind brothers and sisters! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeannie <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>March 10, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Dear Representative Mulready:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma, the leading voice of blind Oklahomans, of which I serve as president, opposes HB 2230. This proposed legislation will harm blind Oklahomans, as well as take business away from local entrepreneurs and direct it to others including the possibility of out-of-state vendors. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Your proposed legislation would exempt county jail commissaries from the priority afforded to blind entrepreneurs to manage and operate vending facilities on state and county properties. If enacted, the blind entrepreneur who currently operates the inmate commissary at the Tulsa County Jail will be displaced and lose his ability to earn a living and support his family. Further, HB 2230 will set precedent in cutting other facilities leading to blind men and women losing their jobs and lending towards dependence on social security disability. The state of Oklahoma will lose tens of thousands of dollars in revenue paid by this blind entrepreneur through a percentage of his profits and the state taxes that he currently pays. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>In good faith, as citizens of Oklahoma, more than forty blind persons, their friends and families attended the Municipal and County Committee meeting on March 1, 2017 to show our legislators that the blind community opposes HB 2230. Additionally, we have called, e-mailed, brought information to and have met with the majority of our representatives, including you. It is clear that our voices have not been heard. HB 2230 does not make sense for the people of Oklahoma. Legislation attacking one person with the potential of limiting the employment of many others does not make sense. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Instead of attacking the businesses and livelihoods of Oklahoma's blind vendors, the Oklahoma legislature and county sheriffs should seek ways to improve prison commissaries through partnership with these entrepreneurs, as was done in Tennessee. The Tennessee Business Enterprises Program developed a high tech state-of-the-art system to deliver commissary services, and designed a program that allowed the sheriffs to continue to benefit from revenue from the operation. Today, almost half of the jail commissaries in the state are managed by blind entrepreneurs. Small business opportunities were created for blind persons. Jobs were created for Tennesseans. The jails enjoy outstanding service and still earn money from the operations that can be used to support the operation of the jail. Everyone wins. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma urges partnerships between blind vendors and county sheriffs along these lines. We further seek a collaborative relationship with you and other legislators to improve opportunities for the blind and other Oklahomans, rather than an adversarial relationships in which legislation about us is introduced without our input, forcing us to take steps to oppose it. We are prepared to discuss solutions that work for both blind entrepreneurs and the state and county facilities in which they operate their businesses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Blind people can be successful and live the lives we want if afforded the opportunity. When blind people successfully operate prison commissaries and similar businesses, there are spinoff benefits and opportunities are created for other blind individuals. With the unemployment rate of blind people at approximately 70%, Oklahoma needs to focus on creating more opportunities for the blind rather than fewer. This in turn will make more blind people productive citizens rather than individuals who must rely on state resources to survive and provide for their families. The blind will have business opportunities; county facilities will receive the commissary services they need; and the state of Oklahoma as a whole will benefit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>We, the blind of Oklahoma, ask that you drop this legislation. If you are interested in protecting the rights of blind Oklahomans and in helping to create opportunity resulting in better education and vocation for the blind in Oklahoma, we have a wealth of experience, ideas and passion to lead the way. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to working with you to develop policies that work for all Oklahoma's citizens, including those of us who are blind. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><img width=202 height=69 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D29A8A.F2E39090"></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Jeannie Massay, President <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>cc: Oklahoma House of Representatives<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>