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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=joeharcz@comcast.net href="mailto:joeharcz@comcast.net">joe harcz
Comcast</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=blind-democracy@octothorp.org
href="mailto:blind-democracy@octothorp.org">blind democracy List</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 28, 2012 8:44 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> free press story</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Snyder plan to cut agency for
blind people stirs anger | Detroit Free Press | freep.com</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Paul Egan</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">By</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Paul Egan</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Detroit Free Press Lansing
Bureau</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">LANSING -- Advocates for blind
people are unhappy with a shake-up in services for disabled people announced
last week by Gov. Rick Snyder, including elimination</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">of the Michigan Commission for
the Blind.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">They say Snyder ordered the
changes without consulting or giving a warning to those who will be most
affected.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Snyder's executive order would
move most vocational rehabilitation services for disabled people to the
Department of Human Services from the Department</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">of Licensing and Regulatory
Affairs.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A small business program overseen
by the Commission for the Blind -- under which blind people receive contracts to
operate stores and provide vending machines</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">in state buildings and at highway
rest areas -- is to be moved to the Department of Technology, Management and
Budget.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In place of the commission, which
has a full-time director whose position is to be eliminated, Snyder ordered the
creation of an advisory board for services</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">to blind and visually impaired
people.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">"We don't want any stinking
advisory board," said Fred Wurtzel, past president of the Michigan Federation of
the Blind.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The state gets better results and
more bang for the buck by having "a separate dedicated staff that specializes
only in working with blind people," Wurtzel</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">said, adding that he was not
speaking on behalf of the federation.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Joe Harcz, a member of both the
federation and American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today, said federal law
requires states to hold public hearings</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">before making significant changes
in their vocational training plans. But that didn't happen, he said.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Mario Morrow, a spokesman for the
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, said public hearings will be
held before the order takes effect.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Harcz also questioned how Snyder
can repeal an act of the Legislature that created the Commission for the
Blind.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">But Snyder spokeswoman Sara
Wurfel said the order doesn't eliminate any powers the legislation created, but
only transfers them.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The Michigan Constitution says
executive orders with the power of law take effect in 60 days unless resolutions
rejecting them are passed by both chambers</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">of the Legislature.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Contact Paul Egan:
517-372-8660</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">orpegan@freepress.com</P></DIV>
<P>
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