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TO: NDSC Members and Affiliated Parent Groups
FROM: Susan Goodman, Director, Governmental Affairs
DATE: March 24, 2006
This issue:
Call Members of Congress -- $7 billion at stake!
Call Senators - Consent decrees in danger!
Continuing Attention Needed on Federal Budget
Thanks to your efforts, the U.S. Senate voted last week to approve the Specter-Harkin Amendment, which added $7 billion to the Senate budget resolution. The money is earmarked for health, education and training. NDSC members, and the others involved in the grassroots campaign to reach our Senators, really made their voices heard!
Now we must turn our efforts to the House of Representatives. Next Wednesday, Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-RI) will offer the Specter-Harkin amendment in the House of Representatives Budget Committee mark-up. Currently, however, she does not have a Republican co-sponsor.
Action Needed
- Please contact Republicans on the budget Committee now!
- Tell them to support the Specter Harkin amendment, to add $7 billion over FY2006 levels in resources for health, education and training, as will be proposed in an amendment to be offered in the House Budget Committee mark-up next Wednesday.
- The following are members of the Committee:
| Alabama: |
Jo Bonner |
Mississippi: |
Roger Wicker |
| California: |
Dan Lungren |
Missouri: |
Kenny Holshof |
| Florida: |
Ander Crenshaw
Mario Diaz-Balart
Connie Mack
Adam Putnam
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen |
New Hampshire: |
Jeb Bradley |
| New Jersey: |
Scott Garrett |
North Carolina: |
Patrick McHenry |
| Idaho: |
Mike Simpson |
South Carolina: |
Gresham Barrett |
| Indiana: |
Chris Chocola |
Texas: |
Jeb Hensarling
Pete Sessions |
| Iowa: |
Jim Nussle |
Wisconsin: |
Paul Ryan |
| Kansas: |
Jim Ryun |
Michigan: |
Thaddeus McCotter |
- Please contact all House Republicans and:
- Ask them to send a message to the House leadership and the Budget Committee Chairman, Jim Nussle (R-IA), that the Budget Resolution that is voted out of the Budget Committee next week needs to provide an increase of $7 billion over FY2006 levels for health, education and training programs.
- Tell them to inform the leadership that if the Budget Resolution does not include the increase, they will vote against the Budget Resolution on the House floor.
You can find the contact information for your Representative at www.congress.org. The main number for the U.S. Capitol is 202/224-3121.
*Both Congressmen Nussle and Sessions are fathers of children with Down syndrome.
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Contact Your Senators: Urge them to vote NO on S. 489
Why the "Consent Decree Fairness Act" S. 489 is anything but fair:
Since the 1970's a great deal of progress has been made in gaining rights for people with disabilities. Protecting those rights fought for by parents and advocates that we as family members and our loved ones depend upon are being threatened by S. 489. It is a law being promoted by some Senators who want to appease their state and local government systems who want agreements called "Consent Decrees" to go away. A consent decree is an agreement reached upon by the parties involved in a lawsuit that often avoids the time and cost of a trial. Such an agreement addresses the "wrongs" complained of by the plaintiffs (parties bringing the lawsuit) and comes to a fair solution.
An example of this is when plaintiffs sued to have their family members with disabilities in institutions moved into smaller community settings and have large facilities closed. Since the early 1970's states have entered into consent decrees with plaintiffs who brought lawsuits against them for the inhumane conditions in institutions. These agreements are often in effect for a long period of time and the courts retain the power to enforce the agreements if the states do not comply.
A bill has been introduced in the Senate (S.489), named the "Consent Decree Fairness Act," that is not fair at all. It takes away the court's power to enforce the agreements by allowing state and local governments to file a motion to vacate or modify a consent decree four years after it is entered or after a new state or local official is voted into office. This means a plaintiff would have to re-prove their entire case every four years or every time a new elected official takes office. Some of the very Senators who complain that the courts are too overwhelmed with cases want to make it possible for cases resolved with consent decrees to be brought up over and over again.
If your child, your sibling or friend was being unfairly treated and you fought an injustice on their behalf and a fair resolution was reached with a consent decree, S. 489 would give the states or local governments the power to not comply. They could wait until a new official is elected, or hold out for the four year limit - whichever comes first and you would have to start all over again. For any family that has been through the ordeal of any kind of conflict regarding their loved one with a disability and "the system", S. 489 is anything but fair.
Call, email and fax your Senators today and urge them vote against S. 489. The individual voice of a constituent makes a difference. Please take a few moments and make your voice heard….and the voice of your loved one. It is the only way S. 489 will be defeated.
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If you have questions or comments about the Newsline, please contact Susan Goodman at Susang1961@aol.com. |
