The following message is making the rounds of various blindness-related e-mail lists. I know Oregon has been hit hard by the current economic situation but having lived in the state for five years and worked closely with several from the commission (both staff and consumers) I know the excellentwork done there and the positive impact on people as a result. This doesn’t strike me as the right way to resolve economic challenges.
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: <mailto:sen.alanbates@state.or.us> sen.alanbates@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/bates>
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: <mailto:rep.peterbuckley@state.or.us> reppeterbuckley@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/buckley>
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: <mailto:sen.margaretcarter@state.or.us>
sen.margaretcarter@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/carter>
http://www.leg.state.or.us/carter
Representative David Edwards
<http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
Party: D District: 30
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-384, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: <mailto:rep.davidedwards@state.or.us> rep.davidedwards@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/edwardsd>
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: <mailto:rep.larrygalizio@state.or.us> rep.larrygalizio@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/galizio>
http://www.leg.state.or.us/galizio
Representative Bill Garrard
<http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
Party: R District: 56
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1456
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-480, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: <mailto:rep.billgarrard@state.or.us> rep.billgarrard@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/garrard>
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: <mailto:rep.georgegilman@state.or.us> rep.georgegilman@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/gilman>
http://www.leg.state.or.us/gilman
Senator Fred Girod
<http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
member-type=senator&sort-by=district#top>
Party: R District: 9
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1709
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-421, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: <mailto:sen.fredgirod@state.or.us> sen.fredgirod@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/girod>
http://www.leg.state.or.us/girod
Representative Mitch Greenlick
<http://www.leg.stateor.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&m
ember-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
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: <mailto:rep.mitchgreenlick@state.or.us>
rep.mitchgreenlick@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/greenlick>
http://www.leg.state.or.us/greenlick
Representative Bob Jenson
<http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
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: <mailto:rep.bobjenson@state.or.us> rep.bobjenson@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/jenson>
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: <mailto:sen.betsyjohnson@state.or.us> sen.betsyjohnson@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/johnson>
http://www.leg.state.or.us/johnson
Representative Bill Kennemer
<http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
Party: R District: 39
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1439
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-380, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: <mailto:rep.billkennemer@state.or.us> rep.billkennemer@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/kennemer>
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: <mailto:rep.bettykomp@state.or.us> rep.bettykomp@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/komp> http://www.leg.state.or.us/komp
Representative Tina Kotek
<http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
Party: D District: 44
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1444
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-281, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: <mailto:rep.tinakotek@state.or.us> rep.tinakotek@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/kotek>
http://www.leg.state.or.us/kotek
Senator Rod Monroe
<http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
member-type=senator&sort-by=district#top>
Party: D District: 24
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1724
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-409, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: <mailto:sen.rodmonroe@state.or.us> sen.rodmonroe@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/monroe>
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: <mailto:rep.nancynathanson@state.or.us>
rep.nancynathanson@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/nathanson>
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: <mailto:sen.davidnelson@state.or.us> sen.davidnelson@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/nelson_david>
http://www.leg.state.or.us/nelson_david
Representative Dennis Richardson
<http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top>
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: <mailto:rep.dennisrichardson@state.or.us>
rep.dennisrichardson@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/richardson>
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: <mailto:rep.chipshields@state.or.us> rep.chipshields@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/shieldsc>
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: <mailto:rep.gregsmith@state.or.us> rep.gregsmith@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/smithg>
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: <mailto:rep.carolyntomei@state.or.us> rep.carolyntomei@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/tomei>
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: <mailto:sen.joanneverger@state.or.us> sen.joanneverger@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/verger>
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: <mailto:sen.vickiwalker@state.or.us> sen.vickiwalker@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/walker>
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: <mailto:sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us> sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett>
http://www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett
Senator Jackie Winters
<http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&
member-type=senator&sort-by=district#top>
Party: R District: 10
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-301, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: <mailto:sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us> sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us
Website: <http://www.leg.state.or.us/winters>
Comments