Blind News Digest # 1190
Bill McGarry
Issue # 1190
Tuesday, December 19, 1995
Today's Topics:
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Earnings Limit Action Alert
In Touch Handbook
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Subject: Earnings Limit Action Alert
From: mi...@pacifier.com (Mike Freeman)
Date: December 7, 1995
From: James Gashel, Director of Governmental Affairs,
National Federation of the Blind
To: ALL
Subject: Earnings Exemption Action Alert (1 of 2)
As you may have heard, the House leadership pulled a "slick" but legal
maneuver on us on Tuesday afternoon. The bill--H. R. 2684--was scheduled
to go before the Rules Committee at 2:30 p.m. Throughout the morning on
Tuesday, Dec. 5, it was beginning to look more and more as though we
might have enough votes to force a vote on our amendment on the floor.
In fact, it was beginning to look as though we had a majority of the
Rules Committee prepared to vote our way for a rule to make a
linkage-retention amendment in order on the floor.
Anyway, whether we had the votes or not, I think that the House
leadership believed we might have the votes. The Rules committee was
going to meet at 2:30, but at shortly after 1:00 they pulled H. R. 2684
off the agenda for the Committee and sent it straight to the floor for a
vote under suspension of the rules. This was an effective and legal
maneuver which by-passed the Rules Committee altogether.
In order to pass a bill under suspension of the rules in the House it
takes a vote of 2/3rds of the members to vote in favor of final passage.
Also, no amendments are in order when a bill goes to the floor under
suspension. Remember, H. R. 2684 is primarily a bill for senior
citizens. Therefore, the leadership was banking on the fact that more
than 2/3rds of the House would vote for the bill on the floor. They were
right. The bill did in fact pass by a vote of 411 to 4. Even our
strongest supporters had to vote for the whole bill as it was,
unamended.
The upshot of the unexpected swift action is that we have shifted our
focus to the Senate. It is expected that H. R. 2684 will be sent
straight to the floor of the Senate, by-passing the Finance Committee.
The vote on the Senate floor will probably come sometime next week.
At this point we are doing our level best to round up votes in the Senate
for a linkage-retention amendment. At this point I cannot say which
Senator will offer the amendment. Several are looking at it. I can say
that the amendment will certainly be offered.
Therefore, the message is this: All Senators should be contacted and
asked to vote for a linkage-retention amendment for blind persons
amendment. If, with the change of the earnings limit, blind people are
left behind, as in the House-passed bill, Senators should vote against
the bill.
Remember: This bill in a slightly modified form--S. 1372--came to the
Senate floor on November 2nd. Because of some particular provisions in
the bill it was subject to a point-of-order in the Senate. This meant
that a "super majority" of 60 votes was neeted to vote to wave the budget
act before the bill could be considered. The proponents for S. 1372 got
53 yeas, and they needed 60. There were 42 nays. Of course, this tells
you that Senators, unlike House members, are not necessarily afraid to
vote against the seniors. They will do so especially if they can find
very legitimate budgetary reasons to do so.
This is our hope: The Senate will either vote to include our amendment in
its version of the Senior Citizens Right to Work Act, or the Senate will
fail to pass the entire bill for budgetary reasons. In the latter case
the earnings limit would not be raised, but the linkage would be entact.
That would certainly not be the best outcome, but it is better than
missing the train altogether.
Also, it would not be a bad idea for the seniors to learn that we are all
in this earnings limit boat together. They ought not to try to throw
us over-board. That is precisely what they have done in the House. They
need to learn that the entire boat will sink or we will all survive
together. Throwing the blind over-board has got to become a very
unpopular thing to do. All senators have got to become convinced of that
fact.
Everyone should now turn to the Senate with all flags flying. This is
still a battle that we definitely can win!!!
A list of the members of the United States Senate is being sent in a
separate message.
Date: December 7, 1995
From: James Gashel, Director of Governmental Affairs,
National Federation of the Blind
To: ALL
Subject: Earnings Exemption Action Alert (2 of 3)
UNITED STATES SENATE
(IN ORDER OF: STATE, NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE, FAX, LEGIS. ASST.) AK Frank
H. Murkowski 706 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
202-224-6665 202-224-5301 Alexander Polinsky Ted Stevens 522 Hart Senate
Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3004 202-224-2354 Elizabeth
J. Connell AL Howell Heflin 728 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC
20510 202-224-4124 202-224-3149 Mansel Long Richard Shelby 110 Hart Senate
Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5744 202-224-3416 AR Dale
Bumpers 229 Dirksen SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4843 202-224-6435
David Pryor 267 Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2353 202-228-3973
Theresa Forester AZ Jon Kyl 363 Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510
202-224-4521 202-228-1239 Tom Alexander John McCain 241 Russell SOB
Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2235 202-228-2862 Jim Jones CA Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3553
415-956-6701 Dianne Feinstein 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington,
DC 20510 202-224-3841 202-228-3954 Mia Ellis CO Hank Brown 716 Hart Senate
Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5941 202-224-6471 Pamela
Gordon Ben Nighthorse Campbell 380 Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5852 202-224-1933 Brooke Barry CT Christopher Dodd 444 Russell SOB
Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2823 202-224-1083 Joseph I. Lieberman 316
Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4041 202-224-9750
DE Joseph R. Biden, Jr. 221 Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5042
202-224-0139 Matthew Baumgart William Roth, Jr. 104 Hart Senate Office
Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2441 202-228-0354 Dennis Smith FL
Bob Graham 524 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3041 202-224-2237 Susan Yarbrough Connie Mack 517 Hart Senate
Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5274 202-224-8022 Mark H.
Smith GA Paul Coverdell 200 Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3643
202-228-3783 Paul Taylor Sam Nunn 303 Dirksen SOB Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3521 202-224-0072 HI Daniel K. Akaka 720 Hart SOB Washington, DC
20510 202-224-6361 202-224-2126 Terri Byers Daniel Inouye 722 Hart Senate
Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3934 202-224-6747 Mavis
Masaki IA Charles Grassley 135 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC
20510 202-224-3744 202-224-6020 Tom Harkin 531 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3254 202-224-9369 Anne Ford ID Larry E. Craig
313 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2752
202-224-2573 Dirk Kempthorne 367 Dirksen SOB Washington, DC 20510
202-224-6142 202-224-5893 IL Carol Moseley-Braun 320 Hart Senate Office
Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2854 202-228-1318 Francesca Cook
Paul Simon 462 Dirksen SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2152 202-224-0868
IN Daniel R. Coats 404 Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5623
202-228-4137 Richard G. Lugar 306 Hart Senate Office Building Washington,
DC 20510 202-224-4814 202-228-0360 KS Bob Dole 141 Hart Senate Office
Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-6521 202-228-1245 Nancy L. Kassebaum
302 Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4774 202-224-3514 Margaret
Cohen KY Wendell Ford 173A Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4343
202-224-0046 Rob Mangas Mitch McConnell 120 Russell SOB Washington, DC
20510 202-224-2541 202-224-2499 LA John B. Breaux 516 Hart Senate Office
Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4623 202-224-4268 Cynthia Rice J.
Bennett Johnston 136 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5824 202-224-2952 MA Edward M. Kennedy 315 Russell SOB Washington,
DC 20510 202-224-4543 202-224-2417 Michael Iskowitz John F. Kerry 421
Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2742 202-224-8525 MD Barbara
Mikulski 709 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4654
202-224-8858 Kari O'Toole Paul S. Sarbanes 309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4524 202-224-1651 ME William S. Cohen 322
Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2523 202-224-2693
Liz Liess Olympia J. Snowe 495 Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5344 202-224-1946 MI Spencer Abraham B40-4 Dirksen SOB Washington,
DC 20510 202-224-4822 202-224-8834 Carl Levin 459 Russell SOB Washington,
DC 20510 202-224-6221 202-224-1388 MN Rod Grams 261 Dirksen SOB
Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3244 202-228-0956 Paul Wellstone 717 Hart
Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5641 202-224-8438 Alex
Clyde and Julie Simpson MO John Ashcroft 170 Russell SOB Washington, DC
20510 202-224-6154 202-228-0998 Annie Billings Christopher S. Bond 293
Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5721 202-224-8149 Shawn Gilleylen
MS Thad Cochran 326 Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5054
202-224-9450 Greg McGinity Trent Lott 487 Russell SOBhington, DC 20510
202-224-4224 202-224-5213 Mary Peterson J. Robert Kerrey 303 Hart Senate
Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-6551 202-224-7645 NH Judd
Gregg 393 Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3324 202-22art Senate
Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3154 202-224-7406 Page Keel
Jesse Helms 403 Dirksen SOB Washington, DC 20510 202-224-6342 202-224-7588
John A. Folmar and Angela D. Sigmon ND Kent Conrad 724 Hart Senate Office
Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2043 202-224-7776 Mary Naylor Byron
L. Dorgan 713 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
202-224-2551 202-224-1193 Stephanie Mohl NE Jim Exon 528 Hart Senate
Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4224 202-224-5213 Mary
Peterson J. Robert Kerrey 303 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC
20510 202-224-6551 202-224-7645 NH Judd Gregg 393 Russell SOB Washington,
DC 20510 202-224-3324
202-22
From: James Gashel, Director of Governmental Affairs,
National Federation of the Blind
Subject: Earnings LImit Action Alert (3 of 3)
UNITED STATES SENATE, continued NH Judd Gregg 393 Russell Washington, DC
20510 202-224-3324 202-224-4952 Robert C. Smith 332 Dirksen Washington, DC
20510 202-224-2841 202-224-1353 NJ Bill Bradley 731 Hart Washington, DC
20510 202-224-3224 202-224-8567 Corey J. Illes Frank R. Lautenberg 506
Hart Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4744 202-224-9707 Sander Lurie NM Jeff
Bingaman 703 Hart Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5521 202-224-2852 Wayne
Propst Pete V. Domenici 328 Hart Washington, DC 20510 202-224-6621
202-224-7371 Keith Nelson NV Richard H. Bryan 364 Russell Washington, DC
20510 202-224-6244 202-224-1867 Harry Reid 324 Hart Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3542 202-224-7327 Sue Mabry NY Alfonse D'Amato 520 Hart
Washington, DC 20510 202-224-6542 202-224-5871 Scott Amrhein Daniel
Patrick Moynihan 464 Russell Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4451 no public
fax # OH Mike DeWine 140 Russell Washington, DC 20510 202-225-2315
202-224-6519 John Glenn 503 Hart Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3353
202-224-7983 Jeffrey Rupert OK James M. Inhofe 453 Russell Washington, DC
20510 202-224-4721 202-228-0380 Don Nickles 133 Hart Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5754 202-224-6008 OR Mark O. Hatfield 711 Hart Washington, DC
20510 202-224-3753 202-224-0276 Patrick S. Atagi PA Rick Santorum B40-2
Dirksen Washington, DC 20510 202-224-6324 202-228-4991 Wayne Palmer Arlen
Specter 530 Hart Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4254 202-228-1229 Melissa
Southerland RI John H. Chafee 567 Dirksen Washington, DC 20510
202-224-2921 unpublished Claiborne Pell 335 Russell Washington, DC 20510
202-224-4642 202-224-4680 Carmel A. Motherway SC Ernest Hollings 125
Russell Washington, DC 20510 202-224-6121 202-224-4293 Strom Thurmond 217
Russell Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5972 202-224-1300 Mele Williams SD
Thomas Daschle 509 Hart Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2321 202-224-2047
Jonathan Adelstein Larry Pressler 243 Russell Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5842 202-228-0368 ** Ann G. Rehfuss TN Bill Frist 825 Hart
Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3344 202-228-1264 Fred Thompson 523 Dirksen
Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4944 202-228-3679 Libby Wood TX Phil Gramm
370 Russell Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2934 202-228-2856 Kay Bailey
Hutchison 283 Russell Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5922 202-224-0776
Shelby M. Weiss UT Robert F. Bennett 241 Dirksen Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5444 202-224-4908 Orrin Hatch 135 Russell Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5251 202-224-6331 Judy Hill VA Charles S. Robb 154 Russell
Washington, DC 20510 202-224-4024 202-224-8689 Robert P. Braziel John W.
Warner 225 Russell Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2023 202-224-6295 Angela
M. Stewart VT James M. Jeffords 513 Hart Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5141
202-228-1967 Sharon Wynn Patrick J. Leahy 433 Russell Washington, DC 20510
202-224-4242 202-224-3595 ** WA Slade Gorton 730 Hart Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3441 202-224-9393 Gretchen Lamberg Patty Murray 111 Russell
Washington, DC 20510 202-224-2621 202-224-0238 Greg Williamson WI Russell
D. Feingold, Jr. 502 Hart Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5323 202-224-2725
Anne T. McMahon Herbert Kohl 330 Hart Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5653
414-297-4455 Steve Kimball WV Robert Byrd 311 Hart Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3954 202-224-8070 John D. Rockefeller IV 109 Hart Washington, DC
20510 202-224-6472 202-224-7665 WY Alan K. Simpson 105 Dirksen Washington,
DC 20510 202-224-3424 202-224-1315 Craig Thomas 302 Hart Washington, DC
20510 202-224-6441 202-224-1724
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Subject: In Touch Handbook
From: gail.c...@intouch.co.uk (Gail Chester)
Organization: In Touch Publishing
* * *
In Touch Publishing
invites you to become an
In Touch Associate
to help secure the future of the
In Touch Handbook
and to receive 150 worth of benefits.
* * *
I write to invite you and your organisation to become
Associates of In Touch.
In Touch Associates is the new support group for In Touch
Publishing. With 500 Founder Associates we will secure the future
of the In Touch Handbook and keep even more visually impaired
people informed through creative use of the latest technology.
As a Founding Associate, you will have:
* the satisfaction of contributing significantly to the
survival and development of the In Touch Handbook and its related
publications and services (current title list enclosed)
* 20 discount off the next In Touch Handbook
* free use of the ground-breaking electronic In Touch Gateway
throughout 1996, and the opportunity to contribute to the growth
of the VI information superhighway
THE HANDBOOK AND ITS FUTURE
It is commonplace to hear the In Touch Handbook described as
the "bible" of visual impairment. But it is threatened with
closure before next year.
"No library or resource centre ... should be without the
Handbook. It is a model of its kind." Library Association Record
"A model for others to follow in presenting essential
information to people with visual disability in a way which is
convenient and accurate". Herbert Laming CBE Chief Inspector of
Social Services Inspectorate
"Absolutely superb" Peng Khaw, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon,
Moorfields Eye Hospital
Essential resources and subsidies which have been available to
the Handbook for over twenty years are, sadly but inevitably, no
longer available.
But it need not be like this. The Handbook continues to be used
by thousands of visually impaired people and those who work with
them week in week out. They have asked us what they can do to
help ensure the continuation and success of Britain's leading
visual impairment information source. Here at last is the answer:
become an In Touch Associate.
YOUR ROLE IS VITAL
In Touch Publishing invites your support urgently now: this is
no idle request. With 500 Associates by December 21st, we will
secure this vital information service for the future. Without,
we will be obliged to suspend publication of the Handbook and all
its related services. Unthinkable? Your support can prevent this.
"The success of community care is founded on up to date and
accessible information for visually impaired people and their
assessing professionals. In Touch is a vital source for both
groups." Robin SeQueira President, Association of Directors of
Social Services
"The braille version [is] a joy to browse in" Hans Cohn MBE,
National Federation of the Blind
In Touch Associates is a support group with its own newsletters
and seminars. As an Associate, you will contribute to In Touch
Publishing at a key time, and also have a significant voice in
the direction of future publishing activity.
The Founding Associate subscription is available from November
21st to December 21st ONLY, at a once-only fee of 100.
In the unlikely event that less than 500 Associates apply by
December 21st, In Touch Publishing will suspend future
publishing including the In Touch Handbook, and your payment will
be returned to you.
ACT NOW
Don't leave it till Christmas Eve to pledge your support: phone
In Touch Publishing now on #01222#222403 and ask to become an In
Touch Associate. Then leave the rest to us. If you prefer you can
return the enclosed printed application form (neither money nor
stamp needed) or write to us in braille. Please act now and
ensure a happy new year for the visually impaired community and
its essential information needs.
With many thanks for your support,
Mike Joseph, (mike....@intouch.co.uk)
Publisher, In Touch Publishing
In Touch Associates
How your money will secure In Touch Publishing
The 50,000 Founding Associates subscription will create a 1996
editorial fund, plus a large committed support group. The money
alone does not guarantee In Touch titles for all time. But the
fund, the Associates, and new publishing media wil combine to
transform the prospects of In Touch Publishing.
* * *
BBC In Touch Handbook
Even though the present In Touch 1995-96 Handbook will remain
current and on sale throughout 1996, work on its successor will
start on January 8th 1996.
But as an In Touch Associate, there is no need to wait until
1997 to benefit from that work.
From day one in January 1996, you can become involved through
the ground-breaking In Touch Gateway (on which your support as
an Associate will be credited).
* * *
In Touch Gateway: unique
* Live, interactive, comprehensive and constantly changing; a
vast store of information and debate on visual impairment; a
gateway to the world of visual impairment information, and the
wide reaches of the Internet
* At its core is the complete In Touch Handbook, searchable,
linkable at a keystroke by blind a sighted users alike
* PLUS a full VI news service, keeping you in daily touch with
every development in this area, large, small, important or
trivial--including of course your own news
* PLUS summaries of every BBC In Touch Programme as they are
broadcast
* PLUS comprehensive events diaries for this year, next year
...
* PLUS information from the leading publishers in visual
impairment welfare
* ALL instantly searchable
* PLUS free access to Internet email and Newsgroups on every
VI topic around the globe
* Search, browse, read, respond, online or offline as you
choose; disk version available.
* * *
Gateway for everyone
For users the Gateway approaches the immediacy of the In Touch
Programme plus its phone-in--together with a depth and breadth
of information that broadcasting cannot match.
For the publishers the Gateway will be the rich source from
which all future publications in print, braille, disk will grow.
For the world of visual impairment the Gateway will become a
forum, a meeting place of people and ideas, problems and
solutions--an empowering medium.
If this subscription succeeds, the In Touch Gateway will be
launched in January 1996, and the next In Touch handbook
approximately a year later. If it fails, there will be no
further publishing activity. The decision will be made on
December 31st.
Apply to become an In Touch Associate now! Phone 01222#222403.
Accept by Thursday 21st December
Phone 01222#222403 now and leave the rest to us or if you
prefer, complete and post/fax the printed form enclosed, or write
to us in braille.
The "Large" Print:
* Why should I subscribe?
I am interested in joining In Touch Associates but need to be
convinced on some points. Please phone me on 01#... the best
times are ...
* How will the money be used?
Details are given above.
* ACTION IF TARGET NOT ACHIEVED
In the event that the Editorial Fund does not reach its target,
In Touch Publishing will return your payment in full/not
implement any instruction to pay (as appropriate).
* APPLYING AFTER DECEMBER 21st?
You wish to become an Associate and support the work of In
Touch Publishing, but have missed the December 21st deadline? For
advice on the current situation and your options, phone
01222#222403.
* * *
POSTAL/FAX APPLICATION
I wish to become a Founding Associate and thereby support the
work of In Touch Publishing.
My Associate Fee is to be used by In Touch Publishing for
current and future initiatives in visual impairment publishing,
and to organise the support work of In Touch Associates.
As an Associate (and at no further cost) I/my organisation will
receive Associate Newsletters, a 20 discount voucher for the In
Touch 1997 Handbook, invitations to seminars and access to the
In Touch Gateway through 1996.
Name ...
Organisation ...
Address ...
Phone ...
Fax ...
I enclose a 100 cheque made payable to In Touch Publishing
or
Please invoice me/my organisation 100
Order number ...
or
Please accept payment of Associate fee by Visa/Mastercard: ...
expires: ...
Card number: ...
Signed: ...
Date: ...
Post to In Touch Publishing, Freepost CF 4231, 37 Charles St,
Cardiff CF1 1YX or Fax to 01222#222383
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End of Issue # 1190 of the Blind News Digest
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