Allison Donald and ADAPT working to change his mind.
By Allison Donald
When asked the question if Senator Alexander supported the Constitutional Rights to Life and Liberty for disabled Tennesseans Mr. David Cleary (Lamar Alexander’s Chief of Staff) could not respond. The Disability Integration Act will give Americans the liberty that many people take for granted, the right to live in the community.
Six Members of National ADAPT: Dawn Russell, Hope Mosely-Russell, Stephanie Woodward, Bruce Darling, Greg Beratan and myself, returned to Washington DC for a follow up visit with staffers of Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander. We met with Mr. Cleary to discuss Alexander’s stance and subsequent lack of support for the Disability Integration Act (S910).
“The legislation as currently written,” said Mr. Cleary, “Senator Alexander could not support the proposed law because it is an unfunded mandate.”
Mr. Cleary made it clear that Senator Alexander is choosing to support state’s rights as opposed to the constitutional rights of disabled Tennesseans.
This has been the normal tone of the conversations activists had had in regard to gaining a co-sponsorship from Senator Alexander. We are at an impasse, because Republican Senators and even some Democrats (Tim Kane-Va.) have been reluctant to support the legislation. One reason is because the DIA does not have a Congressional Budget Office score, an estimate of the cost. Also, Senator Alexander in his opposition has failed to understand the cost saving this legislation would create for our state.
We want to get Senator Alexander to support the Disability Integration Act (S910). We as Tennesseans, must raise our voices in support of community integration.
Learn more about the DIA: http://www.disabilityintegrationact.org
When asked the question if Senator Alexander supported the Constitutional Rights to Life and Liberty for disabled Tennesseans Mr. David Cleary (Lamar Alexander’s Chief of Staff) could not respond. The Disability Integration Act will give Americans the liberty that many people take for granted, the right to live in the community.
Six Members of National ADAPT: Dawn Russell, Hope Mosely-Russell, Stephanie Woodward, Bruce Darling, Greg Beratan and myself, returned to Washington DC for a follow up visit with staffers of Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander. We met with Mr. Cleary to discuss Alexander’s stance and subsequent lack of support for the Disability Integration Act (S910).
“The legislation as currently written,” said Mr. Cleary, “Senator Alexander could not support the proposed law because it is an unfunded mandate.”
Mr. Cleary made it clear that Senator Alexander is choosing to support state’s rights as opposed to the constitutional rights of disabled Tennesseans.
This has been the normal tone of the conversations activists had had in regard to gaining a co-sponsorship from Senator Alexander. We are at an impasse, because Republican Senators and even some Democrats (Tim Kane-Va.) have been reluctant to support the legislation. One reason is because the DIA does not have a Congressional Budget Office score, an estimate of the cost. Also, Senator Alexander in his opposition has failed to understand the cost saving this legislation would create for our state.
We want to get Senator Alexander to support the Disability Integration Act (S910). We as Tennesseans, must raise our voices in support of community integration.
Learn more about the DIA: http://www.disabilityintegrationact.org
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