We wanted to know why she decided to flip-flop after four years of support. Could it have been her new position of power as Chair of the House Rules Committee? After lots of back and forth, and waving of flip-flops, we got her staff to agree to have Slaughter to reread CCA, as she seems to think that CCA is too costly. Her staff will then contact us on October 15th to set up a meeting in Rochester. Well, we’ll see. I’m sure they know that we won’t stand to be trifled with, and will hold them accountable!
Archive for September, 2007
More on the hearings — part 2
Sunday, September 30th, 2007More on the hearings
Sunday, September 30th, 2007The hearings were not the only thing that happened on Tuesday. Afterwards, ADAPT went over to the House Energy And Commerce Committee Room to hold them to their promise to hold hearings on CCA. They were busy with hearings and were of course, NOT happy to see us! Needless to say, it got ugly, and it began to look like arrests would happen. Remember, we were arrested there back in May. We did get them to commit to meet with us about a hearing. Rochester ADAPT then went to the office of Rep. Louise Slaughter.
Links to Community Choice Act hearing videos
Thursday, September 27th, 2007In case you didn’t get to see the webcast of the CCA hearings on Tuesday, I did manage to take a few videos. Here is a link to my You Tube spot:
http://www.youtube.com/adaptanita
I hope that you like them. I also included videos of our visit to Rep. Slaughter’s office.
KTFA News on ADAPT – Chicago AMA HIT
Thursday, September 27th, 2007Zen, from Endeavor Freedom sent this. It is a video of one of the Chicago actions. Here is the link:
http://www.endeavorfreedom.tv/video/video/show?id=942302%3AVideo%3A6019&xgk=9d882eb734
Zen’s stuff is great!
Forum on the Interagency Council of Services of Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf/Blind
Thursday, September 27th, 2007I got this from Dean DeRusso, my colleague and office mate:
Hi everyone,
Do you all remember the Interagency Council of Services of Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf/Blind in New York State? It’s still there and still needs your help.
At Regional Center of Independent Living office of 497 State Street, Rochester NY, there will be a General Public Forum where the Chairperson Gary O’Brien and his staff will be in Rochester, NY on October 16, 2007, from 3 to 5 pm.
They will be voicing their future with this new Council, and they would like to hear what people from around the state would want from this service. It’s important that you attend this forum and tell them what you want and feel that New York State needs. It will help them understand the needs of the deaf community all over New York State.
Remember, your voice will show them why this bill is important for all of us and why they need to appoint the correct 8 people to run this group.
Please reserve that time slot and RSVP that you will be at this meeting. I would like to know how many are comming. So, that way the visit of the Chairperson and his staff will be worth their visit. Please keep your schedule open and be there!
Thank you,
Dean DeRusso
Deaf Systems Advocate
Regional Center for Independent Living
Rally/March for the International Day of Deaf People and Sign Languages
Thursday, September 27th, 2007Rally/March for the International Day of Deaf People and Sign Languages
Come to the first annual Rally/March on Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 1:45 p.m.
We must always educate the general public about the problems associated with deprivation of linguistic rights of Deaf Americans and Deaf people in other countries in the world.
The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) has declared September 29, 2007 to be the International Day of Deaf People and Sign Languages. Please view the following links for additional background information:
http://mainsparis.skyrock.com/
http://www.ellasflashlight.com/
http://blogs.nad.org/president/?p=9
Here in Rochester, the Rally/March will begin in front of Field House on the RIT campus. Look for the signs for the event. Please be sure to plan on arriving at 1:45 p.m. in order that we can be ready to go on the planned route for the March. Wear all black or a black shirt to show your support.
We will begin the Rally with a moment of silence for those who have been deprived of birth-given linguistic rights. We invite local Deaf leaders to speak because the purpose of the Rally is to dialogue with the Deaf community about the utmost significance of the International Day of Deaf People and Sign Languages. We will then conclude the program with the March around the campus.
Contact: Pamela Conley at prcnge@rit.edu
For directions to the “D” lot for parking and to the event outside the Field House, go to:
http://facilities.rit.edu/campus/maps/general/generalsmall.gif
The Community Choice hearings
Thursday, September 27th, 2007The Community Choice hearings were great! Ten senators came to the hearings, including our own Sen. Schumer (D-NY)! I spoke briefly with him, and thanked him for coming. He said, “No, thank YOU for coming. You keep thanking me, but I want to thank you for being here.” he, along with several ofthe senators congratulated Rochester and the Center for Disability Rights, as well as the Regional Center for Independent Living for bringing well over 50 constituents to the hearings. I was also happy to see that Sen. Salazar, from Colorado was there as well, since I spent almost all of my adult life in Colorado, and still consider it home. Both Senators Schumer and Salazar are co-sponsors of the Community Choice Act.
Here is a report from Chris, as well as ADAPT about the hearings:
First, Chris…
Hey gang,
Live update from DC. Before the hearing began, Sen. Schumer’s staff found us and said the senator would be at the hearing and was impressed by the number of calls – 82 – they received yesterday.
When Schumer showed up, he came straight to the NY group and had what his staff later called a “rockstar moment” as all Rochester cheered his name. He talked with the group a few minutes and took a picture with Bruce, the senator holding a “Community Choice Act Now!” Tshirt.
After the first statements by the committee chair and ranking minority member, Schumer interrupted to gain the floor and welcome the large group from Rochester, thank CDR and RCIL, and point out that he would not have been a co-sponsor if it wasn’t for our work and how he is proud now to be a co-sponsor.
Schumer looked practically giddy as we all cheered loudly. Very cool series of moments.
Chris
Now, the report from ADAPT…
The Senate Finance Committee Hearing on the Community Choice Act was a tremendous success! You can still view it on the Senate Finance Committee website and the testimony of each of the presenters can be read and/or downloaded from this site as well.
Many excellent points were made. One of the highlights for many CCA Supporters was when Mitch La Plante refuted the cost estimate and research has proven it is closer to $1.4 to 3.& billion.
Chairman Baucus committed to getting the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Many other great points were made too.
You can still see the hearing for a while, but not forever, on the Senate Finance Committee website. We encourage you to do so!
Thanks to all the CCA supporters who turned out for the hearing! Your presence was awesome! And Bob Liston represented us well, although all the speakers made terrific points.
Attendance by the Senators was quite good, due in large part to each of your efforts! Senators who were there at least part of the time included:
MAX BAUCUS, MT (Chair of the Committee)
CHARLES GRASSLEY, IA (Ranking Minority Member)
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, NY (co-sponsor)
KEN SALAZAR, CO (co-sponsor) J
IM BUNNING, KY
RON WYDEN, OR
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, AR
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, ME
GORDON SMITH, OR
JOHN F. KERRY, MA was there but needs some help understanding the point of the hearing…
Other members who were not there (just FYI)
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, WV
KENT CONRAD, ND
JEFF BINGAMAN, NM
DEBBIE STABENOW, MI
MARIA CANTWELL, WA
ORRIN G. HATCH, UT
TRENT LOTT, MS
JON KYL, AZ
MIKE CRAPO, ID
PAT ROBERTS, KS
JOHN ENSIGN, NV
***********
Written testimony can still be sent in for the next 13 days. It’s probably best to email it to:
susan_douglas@finance-dem.senate.gov
If you write it will probably not get there in time, but the mailing address
is:
Committee On Finance
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6200
If you do send written testimony, we would appreciate your sending ADAPT a copy so we can use it — if needed — in the future. (It’s hard to get ahold of this kind of written testimony later.) You can email it to adapt@adapt.org or send a hard copy
to: ADAPT of TX 1640-A East 2nd ST, Suite 100 Austin, TX 78702 (note NEW
ADDRESS) or fax to: 512/442-0522.
In the hearing room
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007It’s a bit after 8, and all of Rochester ADAPT is here in the Senate Finance Committee Room. The hearings have not begun yet, but we have taken over the room. Daniese, from Delaware has made it, and we are waiting for the folks from Philadelphia to join us.
Off to DC!
Monday, September 24th, 2007We’re headed an hour early on the buses to Washington, DC to attend the Community Choice Act hearings. I’ll tell you more as we get closer.
Community Choice Act Hearings On Tuesday
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007Finally! The Community Choice Act hearings will take place on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 in the Senate Finance Committee Room of the Dirksen Senate Building, in Washington, DC. Rochester ADAPT will be bringing TWO BUSLOADS (about 60 folks) to the hearings! We will meet at the office at 7:30 pm and load the buses at 8 pm. Hopefully, we will leave Rochester at 10 pm, and arrive in Washington, DC at 5 am Tuesday morning. The hearings begin at 10, and afterwards, we’ll make some legislative visits.
