Here's what you can do to help out with LD 765 ASAP:
If you are not yet familiar with this important legislation you may
find out more about it here : http://www.theiris.org/communityconnection/discuss/forum/topic/6/16/1/151.
In a nutshell, LD 765 is requesting that the Maine Legislature fund
documented shortages in the blindness rehabilitation programs
throughout the State of Maine, including Catholic Charities of
Maine, The Iris Network, and the State's Division for the Blind and
Visually Impaired.
This legislation was forwarded from comittee to comittee since
last spring, each comittee recommending approval. In the last
several weeks, the wording of this legislation was changed, in
such a way, that passing it with the new wording, may have very
negative affects on the way blindness rehabilitation services are
delivered in the future. This is not the wording in the original
legislation.
We hope you will take a few minutes to use the template below to
write your own letter and/or call your representatives to
encourage them to pass LD 765 with its original wording. You will
find a complete list of names. phone numbers, and email
addresses for members of the Appropriations Committee. It is
important that you share your concerns about the amended
wording in LD 765 as soon as possible. Thank you
Below please find a sample message that you can customize in
your own personal style to send to members of the Legislature
including members of the Appropriations Committee:
Dear Senator Rosen, Representative Flood, and members of the
Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee:
I am writing to ask you to find funding for L.D. 765 which is now
on the Special Appropriations Table, but I have concerns
regarding certain language now included in L.D. 765 as
amended.
The concern is that L.D. 765 as amended now includes
problematic changes to DBVI’s enabling act that were not part of
the bill that was voted ought to pass by the L.C.R.E.D.
Committee back on February 10. . Specifically, we urge you to
pass L.D.765 with the following sentence deleted from the bill:
Educational services that are required by federal law to be
provided to blind or visually impaired children from birth to
20 years of age must take precedence over services provided
to blind or visually impaired adults.
If enacted, this change in the Division for the Blind and Visually
Impaired’s enabling act will require DBVI to reallocate funds from
adult services in order to provide services to students whenever
there are inadequate resources to meet all of the educational and
rehabilitation needs of students and adults. This reallocation will
result in the loss of federal matching funds for DBVI’s vocational
rehabilitation and independent living services; thus, further
exacerbating the critical funding shortages that now exist. This
loss of matching federal funds would have a disastrous
consequence for blind citizens of Maine.
Thank you for removing this sentence and finding funding for the
initiatives in this critical legislation.
Very truly yours,
[your name and address]
Here is contact information for members of the Appropriations
Committee:
Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial
Affairs
1. Senator Richard W. Rosen (R-Hancock), Chair
Address: PO Box 877, Bucksport, ME 04416
Phone: (207) 469-3779; Email: rrosen113@aol.com
2. Senator Roger J. Katz (R-Kennebec)
Address: 3 Westview Street, Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: (207) 485-2394; Email: RKatz@lipmankatzmckee.com
When the Legislature is in session, you can leave a message
for Sen. Roger Katz by calling the State Senate Message
Phone: (800) 423-6900 or by calling the office at: (207) 2871505.
3. Senator Dawn Hill (D-York)
Address: P.O. Box 701, Cape Neddick, ME 03902
Phone: (207) 337-3689; Email:
SenDawn.Hill@Legislature.Maine.Gov
4. Representative Patrick S. A. Flood (R-Winthrop), Chair
Address: 56 Wedgewood Drive, Winthrop, ME 04364
Phone: (207) 395-4915; E-Mail:
patricksaflood@roadrunner.com
5. Representative Tom J. Winsor (R-Norway)
Address: 107 Thurston Road, Norway, ME 04268
Phone: (207) 527-2233; E-mail: twinsor@megalink.net
6. Representative Kathleen D. Chase (R-Wells)
Address: 142 Branch Road, Wells, ME 04090
Phone: (207) 646-2118; Cell Phone: (207) 468-9747; E-mail:
kathydhchase@hotmail.com
7. Representative Tyler Clark (R-Easton)
Address: P.O. Box 243, Easton 04740
Cell Phone: (207) 227-6971; E-mail: tyleraclark@msn.com
8. Representative Kenneth Wade Fredette (R-Newport)
Address: P. O. Box 70, Newport, ME 04953
Phone: (207) 368-4242; E-mail: fredlaw@myfairpoint.net
9. Representative Dennis L. Keschl (R-Belgrade)
Address: 1024 Wings Mills Road, Belgrade, ME 04917
Phone: (207) 495-2973; Cell Phone: (207) 441-3701; E-mail:
keschl@yahoo.com
10. Representative Margaret R. Rotundo (D-Lewiston)*
Address: 446 College Street, Lewiston, ME 04240
Phone: (207) 784-3259; E-Mail: mrotundo@bates.edu
11. Representative John L. Martin (D-Eagle Lake)
Address: P. O. Box 250, Eagle Lake, ME 04739
Phone: (207) 444-5556; State House E-Mail:
RepJohn.Martin@legislature.maine.gov
12. Representative David C. Webster (D-Freeport)
Address: P. O. Box 124, Freeport, ME 04032
Phone: (207) 865-4311; E-mail: dcwebster@comcast.net or
dcwebster@suscom-maine.net
13. Representative Sara R. Stevens (D-Bangor)
Address: 252 Nowell Road, Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: (207) 942-8900; State House E-Mail:
RepSara.Stevens@legislature.maine.gov