A whole raft of Dem Senators (and Lieberman) is attempting to gut the stimulus/jobs bill

[KamaAina]

From an email:

Act Immediately: Ask Congress to Retain IL Funding in the Economic Recovery Conference Report!

Background: Centers for Independent Living received funding in both the House and Senate versions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but the Senate is currently attempting to strip all funding not related to immediate employment and infrastructure projects.

Senate Democratic leaders conceded they do not have the votes to pass the stimulus bill as currently written and said that to gain bipartisan support they will seek to cut provisions that would not provide an immediate boost to the economy.

Update: There is a group of Senators that are seriously talking about cutting the VR (vocational rehabilitation -Ed.) appropriation in the Stimulus Bill which INCLUDES the IL funding. They have not done any cuts yet, but there is a very strong possibility that they will cut Independent Living funding!

The Senate is busy cutting programs from the bill today and should vote on the bill today or tomorrow! Democratic leaders still want the measure ready for President Obama's signature before February 16.

Senators: Here are the Senators we need to target IMMEDIATELY to change their minds.

Nelson (Nebraska), Bayh (Indiana), Bennet (Colorado), Begich (Alaska), Conrad (North Dakota), Landreiu (sic) (Louisiana), Lincoln (Arkansas), Lieberman (Connecticut), Shaheen (New Hampshire), Tester (Montana), Udall (Colorado), Udall (New Mexico), Warner (Virginia), Webb (Virginia), Carper (Delaware), Klobuchar (Minnesota), McCaskill (Missouri).

Congress Needs to Hear from You Right Now: Persuade your Senator to keep IL funding in the stimulus bill. Tell them your Center will use the funds to hire critically needed employees to help people with disabilities gain employment opportunities.

Our funding has been cut each of the last two years, and hasn't been increased since I can remember. As they mentioned, employment is among the key services that we (and over 300 similar centers nationwide; list at http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html ) provide to our consumers with disabilities. And there's no telling what else they'll put on the chopping block to satisfy a few bitter, vengeful repukes. :grr: :banghead:

[pleah]

1. STOP CAVING TO THE THUGS!

I am really sick of this hand holding shit.

[IDemo]

2. LIEberman? I'm shocked! Tased!

Whoda thunk?

[Beaverhausen]

3. Webb and McCaskill?

[KamaAina]

5. Especially McCaskill, who sounded so strong just the other day

:wtf:

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. She is saying one thing on TV

and giving a completely different impression in her office.

:wtf: is right.

[jillan]

4. You know - I have a daughter that has disablities and I cannot believe how often the government

tries to take away her benefits.

What the hell are they thinking? Trying to take away their independent living skills program?

Don't these people realize that the more independent people with disabilities are, the less money the government will have to pay out to meet their needs?
But of course, people with disabilites don't complain as loudly.

Sometimes I feel like I am living in an alternative universe.

I am fuming!

[KamaAina]

Complain complain complain complain complain

People with disabilities don't complain.

Well, there goes that theory! :grr:

[jillan]

9. Not as loudly - why else are their programs always on the chopping block?

I feel like it's a never ending battle to keep my daughter's services funded - especially in my state.

[havocmom]

6. Dangerous to put Leiberman & gut in same sentence:

too tempting a concept.

[KamaAina]

7. Why? Did he gain weight?

:evilgrin:

[havocmom]

19. Nah, but I was sharpening some utensils in the kitchen

[FLAprogressive]

8. Hmm surprised about Begich, Klobuchar and Tom Udall

usually they're pretty good.....the rest are corporate.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Definitely goes along with my lobbying experience this week

I was in DC lobbying the Senate with my union.

The good news is DC was literally peppered with union folks. All lobbying for the Stimulus Bill.

The bad news is we seemed to get the most resistance from Democrats. Specifically McCaskill and Feingold. And yes, Lieberman.

They all seem scared of 'pork'. Well, how is health care and education funding 'pork'?

So yes, please CALL and do so ASAP. The Senate will definitely vote before they recess on the 13th. Maybe even before that day.

So CALL.

[KamaAina]

12. Lieberman |= Democrat

we seemed to get the most resistance from Democrats. Specifically McCaskill and Feingold. And yes, Lieberman.

Lieberman (I-Corporate Masters) is gone. Good riddance to bad rubbish. But Feingold?! :wtf:

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. My entire group reported better meetings with Republicans

The MO group said the meeting with Bond's aide went better than the one in McCaskill's office.

And yes we were all pretty stunned.

[MiniMe]

13. Hatch on the floor now trying for extending H1B visas

Damn man, even the H1B visas are losing their jobs. And those guys don't pay taxes. What good is that in the argument on the stimulus?

[asjr]

14. I do not know where these people

came from. There is no pork in Independent Living or vocation rehabilitation. The Democrats were supposed to have taken over after 8 years of Simon Legree and The Phantom of the Opera. Blue dogs should belong to AKC--not the Democratic party. Blue dogs are cave people who evidently think themselves Oh So Smart! They have already bled Family planning. Democrats are supposed to be the life blood of our future. We are supposed to CARE about our country and it's citizens. I give up!

[KamaAina]

15. Actually I don't think the AKC recognizes Blue Dogs

http://www.akc.org/breeds/complete_breed_list.cfm

:P

Oddly, they don't recognize yellow dogs either (except yellow Labs), even though they (offically called "Catahoula cur") are the state dog of Louisiana. :eyes:

edit: my ex-boss would lash me with a wet noodle if I forgot yellow Labs!

[asjr]

16. Well, I forgot about "Ol' Yeller". He was

a good dog.

[stillcool]

18. If anyone wants a good site..

to contact all of these people in minutes this is it:
http://www.capwiz.com/sjhs/dbq/officials/

[Blue_In_AK]

20. I just shot off an e-mail to Mark.

He's probably feeling like he has to be all "fiscally conservative" coming from Republican Alaska, but I reminded him that we elected him because we're tired of Republicans. Hopefully, I'm not the only one.

[Coexist]

21. KnR