Western PA ADAPT

PA ADAPT activists traveled to State Senator Jake Corman’s fundraising golf tournament at Toftrees Resort in State College, PA on September 17, 2009. PA ADAPT found it unacceptable that Senator Corman was holding a campaign fundraising event when Pennsylvania did not have a budget.

Senator Corman, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and member of the State Budget Conference Committee, reportedly was not at the function.

The activists assembled in the resort parking lot and marched up to the tournament staging area. The resort management attempted to stop the procession. The activists stopped to listen to their pleas, then proceeded onward anyway.

On the way to the staging area, Corman’s father, J. Doyle Corman, a Pennsylvania State Senator for 21 years, told the activists that his son was in Harrisburg. He then attempted to sweet talk the activists to stop them from proceeding. Again, PA ADAPT politely listened, then preceded anyway.

The golfers were quite surprised to see the 25 activists lined up at the putting green holding signs that protested the budget situation. PA ADAPT thought they needed to know that people were in danger of losing their services while they put money into Corman’s coffers for playing golf.

The press was alerted to PA ADAPT’s presence, but did not show up to cover the protest. One media outlet asked if anyone from Central Pennsylvania was present. It’s kind of funny that in their opinion worthy news revolved around some of Corman’s constituents being there.

Regardless of the lack of press, a strong point was made to the people present at Toftrees Resort. The activists created an uncomfortable feeling for the tournament players and the staff of the resort. It’s almost certain that Senator Corman was also uneasy with the protest. It just proves that PA ADAPT will go anywhere to anytime to get their message across.

You can view pictures of this action in the Western PA ADAPT Group Photo Album on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99551317361#/photo_search.php?oid=99551317361&view=all

PA ADAPT members from Western Pennsylvania visited Washington DC on September 8 and 9, 2009 to speak with the US Senate’s “Gang of 6″ and other Senators on the Finance Committee to let them know that any health care reform package is incomplete if it does not include elements of the Community Choice Act (CCA). The 30 activists also attended a meeting with US Congressman Glenn Thompson to encourage him to sign on to CCA.

The Community Choice Act would provide people with disabilities and seniors with the option of receiving home support services rather than having to go into nursing homes and institutions. On March 24, 2009 Representative Danny Davis and Senator Tom Harkin introduced the CCA bills in Congress.

Following up on the recent action to Senator Jay Rockefeller’s Charleston WV office, the activists visited his DC office to continue the push. Senator Rockefeller is a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health Care.

The Senator was unavailable, but his health care liaison agreed to meet with the 30 activists after giving the usual “fire hazard” routine because of so many wheelchairs blocking up his office. Rockefeller’s liaison was educated on the facts about CCA. The activists continued insisting on speaking with the Senator but he was “too busy”.

ADAPT relented to visit Finance Chairperson Baucus, MT, an important member of the Gang of 6. The activists walked right into the perfect storm. Numerous news cameras and reporters were gathered outside of Baucus’ office. Baucus was assembling the Gang of 6 in his office for the Finance Committee’s first talk on Health Care Reform.

The Gang of 6 was forced to walk past ADAPT as they entered the meeting room. The activists managed to engage Senator Bingaman, NM, for a short conversation and provided him with the LaPlante Cost Study and information on CCA. The activists also were able to explain the need for a Community Choice Option in health care reform NOW.

The media were intrigued by ADAPT’s presence at Baucus’ office and began talking to the activists about their mission. ADAPT members were interviewed by members of the media, including ABC and NBC. A sea of orange shirts was visible during two CNN live reports. The publicity was priceless, spreading ADAPT’s view of health care reform and the Community Choice Option to a worldwide audience.

The ADAPT activists eventually made visits to each Senator’s office from the Finance Committee with about a 50% success rate in reaching the Health Care Reform legislative aides for an ADAPT style conversation on the Community Choice Option.

Following up on a recent visit to Representative Glenn Thompson’s office in Titusville PA, the ADAPT activists also attended a meeting with the Congressman at his DC office. Representative Thompson is one of two Pennsylvania Legislators who have not yet signed onto the Community Choice Act.

The expected 10 minute meeting with 5 people turned into a meeting with 30 lasting over one hour. After listening to the activists’ personal stories and the history of HB 1670, Representative Thompson promised to read the bill, and he let ADAPT know soon if he could sign on. Thompson has extensive experience in the health care field, and said he believes that all 50 states should have a mandate to provide community care instead of institutionalized care.

ADAPT talked about the current drive to include the Community Choice Option for states in health care reform. Representative Thompson said he respected the decision to compromise to make progress, and he told ADAPT that he looked forward to joining in the fight for community care in all 50 states in the future.

The ADAPT members believe that Representative Thompson was sincere in his statements and will await confirmation that he has signed on to the Community Choice Act.

Finally ADAPT paid a visit to the office of PA Senator Bob Casey. The activists spoke with his health care aide and thanked Senator Casey for his good work as part of the Health, Energy, Labor & Pensions Committee, which finished their work on a version of the Health Care Reform Bill prior to the recess.

While at Casey’s office, ADAPT also learned that Senator Tom Harkin would become the new Chairman of the Senate Health Care Committee. Senator Harkin is a friend of the disabled community and sponsor of the Senate version of the Community Choice Act. The ADAPT Members were extremely happy to learn of this. With Harkin at the helm, the likelihood of CCA becoming a reality is more realistic.

You can view pictures of this action in the Western PA ADAPT Group Photo Album on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99551317361#/photo_search.php?oid=99551317361&view=all

PA ADAPT members from Western Pennsylvania visited State Senator Joe Scarnati’s office in Warren, PA on September 1 and 2, 2009 to speak with him regarding the state budget impasse and to demand that any state budget fund people first. Senator Scarnati is the President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate, our Lieutenant Governor and a member of the State Budget Caucus.

On August 4, 2009 the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 195-3 to pass Senate Bill 850 to pay workers. As written, S.B. 850 makes deep cuts to key programs that would force more disabled people out of their homes and into nursing homes.

The PA ADAPT members were told that the senator was busy in Harrisburg. With the senator unavailable, the group had a conference call with Casey Long, Scarnati’s director of legislative affairs. Mr. Long attempted to answer the group’s concerns with typical political rhetoric.

Unsatisfied with this dialogue, the PA ADAPT members requested to speak with the Senator via phone, and decided to stay at Scarnati’s office until he talked to them. A short time later, Warren City Police were dispatched to the senator’s office. Since the group wasn’t blocking access to the senator’s office or other offices, they were allowed to remain.

The PA ADAPT Members spent the afternoon of the 1st and the morning of the 2nd waiting to speak with Scarnati. Although the senator’s staff members where polite and understanding, it became obvious that the senator had no intention of speaking with the group. “Ignore them and they’ll go away” seemed to be his strategy.

On the morning of the 2nd, all public restroom facilities in the building were locked, preventing PA ADAPT Members from using them. This rude move provided another subtle hint that the senator didn’t want to deal with the group.

The PA ADAPT members are appalled at Scarnati’s refusal to speak with concerned citizens of Pennsylvania about the budget. He needs to realize that he represents all PA citizens in the state budget negotiations. His refusal to speak with PA ADAPT members gives the undeniable message that he DOES NOT CARE about what the citizens of Pennsylvania think.

Despite Scarnati’s refusal to speak with the PA ADAPT members, local radio and newspaper helped spread the word to his local constituents. Additionally the group got to speak with local citizens, and almost all agreed with the message.

PA ADAPT is not finished with Senator Scarnati. He now has been introduced to PA ADAPT and will hear from the organization again in the near future.

You Can Help! Call Senator Scarnati’s offices and tell him to stop playing politics with peoples’ lives. Demand that state government quit using the disabled community as political pawns. Tell him to fund people first.

Harrisburg, PA – 717-787-7084
Warren, PA – 814-726-7201
Brockway, PA – 814-265-2030
Wellsboro, PA – 570-724-5231