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: