[nfbwatlk] Oregon Commission for the Blind

[Albert Sanchez]

I remember him, good stuff! A.S.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)" <Bennett.Prows at HHS.GOV>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 1:18 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Oregon Commission for the Blind


> Willard Freeman has long been involved with us in the NFB.  At one time,
> he worked for the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, and also
> volunteered to work with our national Office.
>
>
>
> He started out in Oregon, and has been back there for some fifteen or so
> years.  His wife Kelly Comings is blind, and they are good friends.  He
> has taken an interest in the latest flap over the proposals around the
> Oregon Commission.  Thought I'd post some interesting E-corespondence he
> forwarded concerning the legislation.  He apparently wrote to several
> folks.
>
>
>
> /s/
>
>
>
> Bennett Prows
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
>
>
> From: Willard Freeman [mailto:
>
> willardf at gmail.com]
>
>
>
> Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 1:31 PM
>
> To: Rep Garrard
>
> Subject: Commission for the Blind
>
>
>
> I am emailing you to voice my opposition to closing the Commission for
> the Blind.
>
>
>
> The Commission was established by the legislature in 1949 as a separate
> agency and to develop expertise in the vocational rehabilitation of
> blind adults.
>
>
>
> In 1977 the commission board was restructured by the legislature to more
> broadly represent blind Oregonians. I worked on that legislation and
> testified
>
> in favor of the bill.
>
>
>
> Study after study over the past several decades overwhelmingly show that
> services to the blind are more effectively delivered under the separate
> agency
>
> structure.
>
>
>
> I appreciate that the state budget needs balancing but in the long run,
> less tax revenue will be generated if blind Oregonians are not served
> effectively.
>
>
>
> Thank you for your consideration.
>
>
>
> -- 
>
> Willard Freeman
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>
> From: Rep Shields <ShieldC at leg.state.or.us>
>
> Date: Tue, May 26, 2009 at 4:46 PM
>
> Subject: RE: Commission for the Blind
>
> To: Willard Freeman <
>
> willardf at gmail.com>
>
>
>
> Thank you for your email to Representative Shields.
>
>
>
> Your input is very important as we go through this budget process.  We
> really do appreciate the time and effort you and many others have made
> to call and
>
> email regarding the Commission for the Blind.  None of the budget
> decisions will be easy, but they must be made.
>
>
>
> The Co-Chairs of Ways and Means released their recommended budget on
> Monday afternoon.  You can find this report here:
>
> http://www.leg.state.or.us/budget/2009_11Co_ChairRecommendedBudget.pdf.
>
>
> On page 13, you will see that the recommendation is that the Commission
> sustain a relatively small cut to the program's budget ($173,272 out of
> approximately
>
> $1.71 million).  It is my understanding that there is no proposal from
> the legislature to eliminate or suspend the Commission at this time.
>
>
>
> Again, we really do appreciate your input during this challenging time.
> Rep. Shields will keep your concerns in mind as he is called to make
> decisions
>
> about the 2009-11 budget.
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
> MaryAlecia K. Briggs
>
>
>
> Legislative Aide
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>
> From: Sen Verger <verger.sen at state.or.us>
>
> Date: Wed, May 27, 2009 at 3:38 PM
>
> Subject: RE: Commission for the Blind
>
> To: Willard Freeman <
>
> willardf at gmail.com>
>
>
>
> Dear Willard,
>
>
>
> Thank you for writing.  The Commission for the Blind provides valuable
> services to many Oregonians.  Currently there is no bill to close the
> commission.
>
> We don't foresee a bill this legislative session that would combine or
> close the Commission for the Blind.
>
>
>
> The Governor mentioned combing state commissions with other state
> agencies.  As a broad example, he mentioned combing the Commission for
> the Blind with
>
> the Department of Human Services.  This was one idea to reduce state
> costs due to financial hardship.  However, no legislative member has
> been interested
>
> in having this conversation at this time.
>
>
>
> Senator Verger supports and believes the Commission for the Blind
> provides vital services.  We will do everything we can to maintain
> funding.
>
>
>
> Thank you again for writing.
>
>
>
> Josh Savey, Staff
>
> Senator Joanne Verger, Oregon Senate District 5
>
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