Subject: ACTION ALERT ATTACHED AND IN BODY OF EMAIL, PLEASE SHARE
Linda Mock, Director Oregon Commission for the Blind
ACTION ALERT: NOTICE OF POTENTIAL CLOSURE OF THE OREGON COMMISSION FOR
THE BLIND
The Oregon Commission for the Blind was informed by Governor Kulongoski’s
office on Friday, May 15, 2009 that he is recommending that the Commission
for the Blind be "suspended" as a result of the economic crisis. This
would mean that the agency would cease to operate effective July 1, 2009
and the services we provide would somehow be integrated into other
programs within state government.
We believe that this is not a cost effective decision and that the
services that the agency provides to blind Oregonians are at great risk if
this recommendation is carried out. The Oregon Legislature will be making
the final decision as to whether or not to continue the Commission for the
Blind.
The agency provides specialized vocational rehabilitation and independent
living services to individuals who are blind. It is the only organization
in Oregon which provides these services.
Only 11% of the agency budget is provided by state general fund used to
match federal grants. This represents less than ½ of 1% of the total state
general/lottery fund budget.
Agency services are cost effective. Successfully employed agency clients
pay back the state investment of their rehabilitation program in less than
16 months through their tax contributions and create savings in other
programs such as the Oregon Health Plan and other forms of public
assistance.
The older blind independent living program helps seniors live
independently after vision loss and prevents or prolongs the need for
seniors to enter into assisted living or nursing homes. Delaying the need
for this care by even one year can save the state $36,000-$68,000 per
individual.
The agency felt that it is imperative that we share this information with
all interested parties so that they can contact the legislature as soon as
possible. Contacts should be made immediately with the Ways and Means
Human Services Sub-committee and the Full Ways and Means Committee as a
decision could be made within the week. Included is a contact list for
your information.
The following contains a list of members of the full committee and
subcommittee on Human Services. Following on subsequent pages is the
contact information for each committee member.
Ways and Means Full Committee Membership:
Sen. Margaret Carter, Co-Chair
Rep. Peter Buckley, Co-Chair
Sen. Betsy Johnson, Vice-Chair
Rep. Nancy Nathanson, Vice-Chair
Sen. Alan C Bates
Sen. Fred Girod
Sen. Rod Monroe
Sen. David Nelson
Sen. Joanne Verger
Sen. Vicki L Walker
Sen. Doug Whitsett
Sen. Jackie Winters
Rep. David Edwards
Rep. Larry Galizio
Rep. Bill Garrard
Rep. George Gilman
Rep. Bob Jenson
Rep. Betty Komp
Rep. Tina Kotek
Rep. Dennis Richardson
Rep. Chip Shields
Rep. Greg Smith
Human Services Subcommittee Membership:
Sen. Alan C Bates, Co-Chair
Rep. Tina Kotek, Co-Chair
Sen. Margaret Carter
Sen. Jackie Winters
Rep. Mitch Greenlick
Rep. Bill Kennemer
Rep. Dennis Richardson
Rep. Carolyn Tomei
Senator Alan C Bates
Party: D District: 3
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-205, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.alanbates@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/bates
Representative Peter Buckley
Party: D District: 5
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1405
Interim Phone: 541-488-9180
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-286, Salem,, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 71 Dewey Street , Ashland, OR, 97520
Email: rep.peterbuckley@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/buckley
Senator Margaret Carter
Party: D District: 22
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
Interim Phone: 503-282-6846
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-209, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 3722, Portland, OR, 97208
Email: sen.margaretcarter@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/carter
Representative David Edwards
Party: D District: 30
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-384, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.davidedwards@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/edwardsd
Representative Larry Galizio
Party: D District: 35
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1435
Interim Phone: 503-350-0804
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-282, Salem,, OR, 97301
Interim Address: P.O. Box 231161, Tigard, OR, 97281
Email: rep.larrygalizio@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/galizio
Representative Bill Garrard
Party: R District: 56
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1456
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-480, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.billgarrard@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/garrard
Representative George Gilman
Party: R District: 55
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1455
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-493, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.georgegilman@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/gilman
Senator Fred Girod
Party: R District: 9
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1709
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-421, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.fredgirod@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/girod
Representative Mitch Greenlick
Party: D District: 33
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1433
Interim Phone: 503-297-2416
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-492, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 712 NW Spring Ave., Portland, OR, 97229
Email: rep.mitchgreenlick@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/greenlick
Representative Bob Jenson
Party: R District: 58
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1458
Interim Phone: 541-276-5821
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-481, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 2126 N. W. Despain Ave., Pendleton, OR, 97801
Email: rep.bobjenson@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/jenson
Senator Betsy Johnson
Party: D District: 16
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1716
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-215, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.betsyjohnson@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/johnson
Representative Bill Kennemer
Party: R District: 39
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1439
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-380, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.billkennemer@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/kennemer
Representative Betty Komp
Party: D District: 22
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1422
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-273, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.bettykomp@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/komp
Representative Tina Kotek
Party: D District: 44
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1444
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-281, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.tinakotek@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/kotek
Senator Rod Monroe
Party: D District: 24
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1724
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-409, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.rodmonroe@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/monroe
Representative Nancy Nathanson
Party: D District: 13
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1413
Interim Phone: 541-343-2206
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-280, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 41895, Eugene, OR, 97404
Email: rep.nancynathanson@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/nathanson
Senator David Nelson
Party: R District: 29
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1729
Interim Phone: 541-278-2332
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-211, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 1407 NW Horn Ave., Pendleton, OR, 97801
Email: sen.davidnelson@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/nelson_david
Representative Dennis Richardson
Party: R District: 4
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1404
Interim Phone: 541-601-0083
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-373, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 55 South 5th St., Central Point, OR, 97502
Email: rep.dennisrichardson@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/richardson
Representative Chip Shields
Party: D District: 43
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1443
Interim Phone: 503-231-2564
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-276, Salem,, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 5313 N. Vancouver Ave., Portland, OR, 97217
Email: rep.chipshields@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/shieldsc
Representative Greg Smith
Party: R District: 57
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1457
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-482, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.gregsmith@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/smithg
Representative Carolyn Tomei
Party: D District: 41
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1441
Interim Phone: 503-653-5180
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-279, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 11907 SE 19th Ave., Milwaukie, OR, 97222
Email: rep.carolyntomei@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/tomei
Senator Joanne Verger
Party: D District: 5
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1705
Interim Phone: 541-756-4140
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-401, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 3696 Broadway PMB 344, North Bend, OR, 97459
Email: sen.joanneverger@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/verger
Senator Vicki L Walker
Party: D District: 7
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1707
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-309, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.vickiwalker@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/walker
Senator Doug Whitsett
Party: R District: 28
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728
Interim Phone: 541-882-1315
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE., S-303, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 23131 North Poe Valley Rd., Klamath Falls, OR, 97603
Email: sen.dougwhitsett@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett
Senator Jackie Winters
Party: R District: 10
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-301, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.jackiewinters@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/winters
