[Ohio-talk] Fw: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] Some Good News From North Carolina

[Dr. Smith]

I love even the hint of good news, so read on.

JW

Dr. J. Webster Smith
President National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
P.O.BOX 458 Athens, Ohio, 45701-0458
Phone Number - 740-592-6326
"Changing What it Means to be Blind"
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary H. Ray" <ghraynfbofnc at charter.net>
To: <nfbaffiliatepresidents at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 8:03 PM
Subject: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] Some Good News From North Carolina


> Fellow Presidents:
>
> Gary Ray here.  I have some good news to share.  Although the final ink is
> not dry and the battle is not over until the budget is signed, sealed, and
> delivered, I feel good enough to update on things going on in NC.
>
> This year, the NC budget process started in the NC Senate.  We did well in
> that version of the budget.  We have our Newsline money in and seemed to
> have only a few issues with funding of our residential school for the 
> blind.
>
> After the Senate finished work, the House produced a version of the budget
> that  was not good for us at all.  They wanted to close our residential
> school completely and farm out the kids to two deaf schools.  Also, we did
> not have Newsline money in this version of the budget.
>
> We never saw this coming from the House.  We are much stronger in the
> Senate.
>
> Well, this galvanized us starting on Friday, June 5.  During the next 
> three
> weeks, we marched in front of the school, marched in front of the
> Legislature, started a massive phone and email campaign, lobbied the
> legislature, and did many media contacts and interviews.  The outpouring 
> of
> support from the blind community and those who support us was amazing.
>
> We were unable to stop the House from passing their version of the budget.
> The Senate rejected that version of the budget and both houses appointed a
> Conference Committee to work out the differences.  The Conference
> subcommittee dealing with these portions of the budget became our
> battleground.
>
> Well, this past Thursday, the Conference subcommittee recommended that our
> school NOT be closed, that the Outreach program of the school be fully
> funded, and that our Newsline funding be included.
>
> One of the Senators close to the process stated that our lobbying efforts
> were extremely effective.
>
> These items must be accepted by the full Conference Committee, both houses
> of the legislature, and signed by the Governor, but we feel REALLY good at
> this point.
>
> If it all comes to pass, we will have gotten EVERYTHING we went after.
>
> If it goes through, what a great victory for the blind of North Carolina!
>
> Don't let anyone ever tell you that we can not bring change to our
> legislature!
>
> Pray that these items make it the rest of the way through the budget
> process.
>
> Forward the Federation!
>
>
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