January 25, 2002

Senate Bill 385 passed out of the Senate Ways and Means committee as expected
today.  But not expected was the close vote. According to the Hawver report
the vote was 6-4.  Senators Adkins and Shodorf joined Democrats in voting no
on the bill.  Please be sure to give a big thank you to them, especially if
you're from their area.

Next week the bill will go to the Senate Floor, we think sometime between
Tuesday and Thursday.

ACTION: WE NEED CALLS TO YOUR SENATORS ON MONDAY ASKING THEM TO VOTE NO ON
385. 

Also don't forget to keep the pressure up on getting HB 2020 heard in Rep.
Harringtons committee. (See DRACH alert)

Governor Graves introduced his tax bill Thursday afternoon to the Senate Tax
committee.  We are supporting the Governor's efforts and by far his package
appears to be the best bill so far concerning social issues and education.

But to be clear, the Governor's package will not eliminate waiting lists and
it will not reinstate the lost wages to attendants.  In other words, during
this very tight time we appreciate what the Governor has done, but we have
yet to accomplish all we need to make independent living a reality for all.

I will be in Topeka on Monday and Tuesday and possibly Wednesday of next
week.

Thanks for all your work so far. We ARE making a difference!

"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence
of our friends." - Martin Luther King Jr