Senator Graham and the CRPD

There are substantial conversations occurring among Republicans on text of a resolution on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I hope Senator Graham of South Carolina is participating. Why? Because he has a track record for joining with other Senators of both parties to resolve big, complicated problems in a reasonable way. Furthermore, he has a long history with Senator McCain from Arizona, who strongly supports ratification of the CRPD. And finally, Senator Graham respects the power and strength of our Constitution and is a strong advocate for us being a credible player on the international stage.

He won the Republican primary on June 10, 2014 easily over his challengers, receiving more than 50 percent of the votes. His sister, for whom he took responsibility when their parents died when she was 13, has said that her brother has always been there for her. South Carolina voters tend to feel the same way, as do those who serve in the military. Senator Graham is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and probably is among the top three Senators in ranking who have made multiple trips to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a Senate leader on bipartisan immigration reform.

He has a record for figuring out how to “tread the needle”, while remaining true to fundamental principles. He has been characterized as an effective strategist and tactician. Well, if that is so, we could use his help now. His primary is behind him. He is a friend of Senator McCain. He’s not afraid to work with Democrats. He is an independent thinker. He is a problem solver. We must ratify the CRPD now. If there is an impasse, Republican supporters of the CRPD (Senators Ayotte, Kirk, McCain, Collins, Murkowski, and Barrasso) have nothing to lose by reaching out to Senator Graham. In addition, people from South Carolina, especially those currently or formerly in military service, could simultaneously approach Senator Graham, and ask him to join his Republican colleagues who support ratification of the CRPD. There is not a moment to waste. His support for ratification would bring more supporters to our side.

Here is Senator Graham’s contact information:

Washington, D.C.: 202.224.5972

Greenville: 864.250.1417

Columbia: (803) 933-0112

Florence: (843) 669-1505

Mt. Pleasant: (843) 849-3887

Rock Hill: (803) 366-2828

Pendleton: (864) 646-4090

Website:  www.graham.senate.gov

Facebook: www.facebook.com/USSenatorLindseyGraham

Twitter: @LindseyGrahamSC

New Kindle book --  A Moral Imperative:  U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Book link: http://t.co/Vigyant7aM

If you are interested in supporting the ratification of the disability rights treaty, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, also check out:

www.disabilitytreaty.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RatifyCRPD

Blog: www.wecandothisifwetry.blogspot.com

Twitter: @AuntPip

CRPD: We Don't Need a Cliff Hanger, We Need Action Now

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee must mark up a resolution on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on July 16th and the full Senate must vote on the resolution before the end of July.

Those who support ratification of the CRPD have worked hard, long, and made every possible case for ratification over the last two years. They have been patient. They have respected and taken direction from senators and staff. They anticipated that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would mark up the resolution on July 16th. According to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee website the CRPD resolution is not on the agenda for that date.

The current situation is beyond credulous. The Supreme Court resolved the sovereignty question in Bond vs. United States. Those who oppose the CRPD realize that if they can delay things through the month of July that, in all probability, any Senate action on a CRPD resolution is dead in 2014. And if the media pundits are accurate, there's the possibility that the Democrats may lose control of the Senate in the next election, November 2014. If that were to occur then, in all likelihood, there would be no action on the CRPD for a very long, long time. Senator Harkin is the only senator who seems to fully appreciate these stark assessments.

It's time to move. It's time to show courage. Whatever the state of negotiations are, I say to senators, STOP. Have a committee mark up. The votes are there. Have a floor vote. If there are amendments to the CRPD resolution, deal with them one at a time in PUBLIC. Enough of the "behind the scenes" stuff. The strategy in effect now is PLAYING RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE OPPOSITION.

It's time to be honest. It's time to call the fence-sitters to account. There is no reason to wait unless we want to embrace failure. I don't. You don't. Tell the Senate to act.

Thank you.

Pat Morrissey

New Kindle book --  A Moral Imperative:  U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Book link: http://t.co/Vigyant7aM

If you are interested in supporting the ratification of the disability rights treaty, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, also check out:
www.disabilitytreaty.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RatifyCRPD
Blog: www.wecandothisifwetry.blogspot.com
Twitter: @AuntPip