A Personal Point of Privilege

This morning I was elected president of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities. Here are my acceptance remarks...

Thank you for this honor. I know I have assumed a great and important responsibility. I would like to make three points.

First, I think a leader should be practical, realistic, and a problem solver. I am those things.

Second, goals are important. I looking forward to building upon USICD past and current  efforts. Long term financial stability, expanded partnerships with young people, organizations, and government, and sustained visibility for USICD in all disability rights campaigns and initiatives are the goals in which I have a special interest.

Third, in my experience, the things that lead to success are a willingness to lay the ground work, use effective communication strategies, and invest in consensus building.

Thank you for this special opportunity.

I hope you will join USICD if you are not a member and consider attending USICD's gala in December. For details visit www.usicd.org.

Pat Morrissey

CRPD: A Critical Time to Weigh In

Every poll I look at shows that in races for the Senate, the differences between candidates is often only two or three points in tightly contested states. So if you live in places such as Louisiana, North Carolina, Kansas, Georgia, South Dakota, Colorado, New Hampshire, Iowa, Kentucky, and perhaps other states you have more leverage than you'll ever have at any other time to get the attention of those running for the Senate.

In states where there are two newcomers running for the Senate you have the opportunity to get their support for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) if it were to come up for a vote in the new Congress that begins in January 2015.

In states where a Democrat is running for reelection you have the opportunity to ask that Senator to request that Majority Leader Harry Reid schedule a vote on the CRPD in November or December 2014.

In a state where a Republican is running for reelection you have the opportunity to ask that Senator to support ratification of the CRPD.

In a state where a Senator is retiring in January 2015 you have the opportunity to ask that Senator to consider his or her legacy, his or her commitment to human rights, and the standing of the United States within the world community.

Each person running for the Senate wants your vote on November 4, 2014. PAC money is in play now. Political ads are running non-stop. But the bottom line is voter turn out. If you tell a candidate that you intend to vote, as do your family and friends, and that where the candidate stands on the CRPD matters to you and those you know, it will have an impact.

Ratification of the CRPD will cost nothing, but it will strengthen U.S. credibility as a leader on disability rights. It requires no changes in existing laws or the passage of new ones. It will give the U.S. the right to engage other countries, which have ratified the CRPD, in developing and shaping accessibility standards. It will not alter the balance of power between the federal and state governments. It will not affect parents' right to home school their children because that right is controlled by state not federal law.

Please take the time to talk to candidates for Senate as well as Senators who are not up for election. By reaching out to them you can affect how the U.S. responds to a treaty that is going to change the social landscape around the world for the better with or without us. If the U.S. is a player this change will happen more quickly, more smartly. And in return, the U.S. will learn from other nations how to more effectively, more efficiently build inclusive societies in rural and remote areas in America.

Thank you.

Common Grounder

The CRPD and Georgia

By my count we have 27 days until the midterm elections on November 4th. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has told us that unless we have a guaranteed count of 67 Senators in favor of the disability treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), we will not get a Senate vote on it.

In Georgia Senator Chambliss is retiring at the end of the current term and Senator Isakson is up for reelection this November. We are six votes short of the 67 we need for passage of the CRPD in the November-December time frame. That is why these two Senators are so important to us. If we could convince them to support the CRPD, we would need only four more votes to reach 67.

The National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency authorized by Congress to advise the government on disability policy, is having its quarterly meeting in Atlanta Georgia right now. NCD will hold a press conference on the CRPD at 2:30 pm today. Here are the details:

The Press conference will immediately follow the NCD meeting, October 7, 12:30 in Atlanta, Georgia

Location: Shepherd Center, 2020 Peachtree St.,  Atlanta, GA  30309

Speakers:
Jeff Rosen, chair of National Council on Disability
Mark Johnson, Georgia disability advocate
Kim Gibson, executive director of Disability Link, Decatur, Georgia
Ryan Johnson, Center for Leadership in Disability, Georgia State University
David Morrissey, executive director of US International Council on Disabilities

If you live in the area I hope you attend.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind, both supporters and opponents of the CRPD, that we are at a critical point in the ratification campaign.

THE SENATE RETURNS TO WASHINGTON, D.C. ON NOVEMBER 12th AND IS HERE FOR A LIMITED TIME (UNTIL CHRISTMAS). WE WILL HAVE OUR LAST CHANCE IN A LONG WHILE TO ACHIEVE RATIFICATION OF THE CRPD.

I URGE EVERYONE, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY SPECTATORS, TO BECOME ENGAGED WITH THE CRPD CAMPAIGN.

Why?

1. With all the conflicts going on, and the U.S. assuming primarily a military role, at least in the media presentation of these events, we need to project a positive, compassionate, view of the U.S. as a country committed to human rights and helping people rebuild their lives. Ratification of the CRPD would help us do that.

2.  Conflicts always result in many people who are newly disabled. We must be prepared and willing to help these people reestablish their independence and productivity. They, as others will, want to help their land of conflict rebuild.

3.  Many people in this country and abroad do not understand why we have not yet ratified the CRPD. If we were to fail in ratifying the CRPD, we would foster a lack of trust among many people here and elsewhere about the level of our commitment to assisting people with disabilities to lead full lives.

4.  Many who oppose ratification have negative feelings about the U.S. being a fully-engaged partner in the world community. We cannot let this view prevail. It is counterproductive. It diminishes the standing and influence  of the U.S. It raises speculation about our real motives in any negotiation.

5.  Today in Georgia we could make a turn in the right direction. Please be part of this turning point and contact your Senators and urge them to do two things: first, ask them to urge Senator Reid a hold of floor vote on the CRPD, and second, to vote for it when the vote occurs. All Senators should hear from all of us within the next 27 days, and a few more press conferences wouldn't hurt either.

Thank you.
Common Grounder

CRPD: New Poll Suggests Those Concerned About Disability Issues Could Affect Outcome in Tight Elections

A non-partisan group, respectabilityusa.com, contracted two polling firms, one Democrat (Greenberg Quilan Rosner Research) and one Republican (North Star Opinion Research) to survey 1,000 likely 2014 voters about disability issues. The survey was conducted from September 20-24, 2014 in states considered “Senate battleground states” – Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and West Virginia. If you want to see the results of the full survey on disability issues go to this link -- http://respectabilityusa.com/Resources/Disability%20Issues%20for%20Voters%20in%20the%20Senate%20Battleground.pdf.

Thirty-one percent said “yes” to the question “Do you, a family member, or a close friend have a disability?” Wow, that’s almost 1/3 of the 1,000 surveyed. Here’s another interesting result. When those surveyed were divided into two groups – under 50 years of age and over 50 years of age and asked -- “Do you, a family member, or close friend have a disability,” the percentage was 60 percent for those under 50 and 55 percent for those over 50. When these 1,000 voters were divided politically, 56 percent of Democrats, 58 percent of Independents, and 56 percent of Republicans answered “yes” to the question -- “Do you, a family member, or a close friend have a disability?” So disability is equally represented among all three political persuasions.

The survey question that stood out for me was – “The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, also known as the Disability Treaty, is an international human rights treaty of the United Nations modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act. This Treaty encourages the adoption of laws around the world that promote accessibility, equal opportunities and end abuse and discrimination of people with disabilities. The Treaty will not change existing U.S. law or add additional costs to its budget. Do you favor or oppose the U.S. Senate ratifying this treaty?”

The answers were energizing: 83 percent of Democrats, 61 percent of Independents, and 50 percent of Republicans surveyed favored Senate ratification of the CRPD.

Please share these results far and wide, but especially with Senators and their staff. This poll has meaning. For a Senator in a tight race, it means that paying attention to and being willing to commit to supporting and voting in favor of disability issues, such as ratification of the CRPD, could mean the difference between winning or losing the November election. This poll, perhaps the first of its kind, is nationally representative, has a 95 percent confidence level, and a 3.10 margin of error. Its implications should not be dismissed or ignored by any candidate that wishes to serve in the Senate in January 2015.

Thank you.

Common Grounder

The CRPD and the Kansas Senate Race

Guess what? According to the Washington Post in Kansas Greg Orman, the Independent candidate running against Republican Senator Pat Roberts, has raised Roberts’ vote (against) on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and his treatment of Senator Bob Dole. Orman said, “…he [Roberts] voted against a U.N. treaty banning discrimination against people with disabilities, despite Dole’s personal plea. He threw Bob Dole under the bus on the U.N. treaty on disabilities….”

The Rasmussen Reports poll (September 19^th) has Orman five points ahead of Roberts. Chad Taylor, the Democrat candidate, dropped out of the Senate race. The Roberts-Orman match up is being closely watched because of the question of who will control the Senate, come January 2015. Orman, who has said he will caucus with the majority in the Senate if elected, could be in a powerful position. If control of the Senate comes down to one member, that is. The Republicans need a gain of six seats, or five plus Orman. Democrats, over all have been gaining strength in the last week (see www.realclearpolitics.com), so who controls the Senate in 2015-2016 could come down to a nail-biting end.

This means the CRPD has made it into political prime time. We didn’t bring it up, a candidate did, and it made it into a front-page story in the Washington Post. We need to see more press/media coverage. We need to play a role in making that happen. If Orman saw the value in mentioning Robert’s position on the CRPD, other candidates in other Senate races may see the value too. That is, if we bring it to their attention at candidate forums and town hall meetings, as well as through their press offices.

Four things to remember: First, we have leverage now that we won’t have after the elections on November 4^th. Second, the CRPD is not a trivial, single topic issue – it is about how millions of people with disabilities, their families, and advocates are viewed and treated by society. Third, the U.S. standing with regard to credibility on human rights is precarious, and needs a push in the right direction. Fourth, in order to build momentum, we need to go public about what we do and learn by using social media (i.e., Twitter, #CRPD).

Please choose to be politically active right now and urge all Senators and candidates to state their position on the CRPD and to urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to hold a vote on the CRPD.

Thank you.

Common Grounder

CRPD: What Is at Stake?

Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) may be considered by the Senate when it returns November 12th after the mid-term elections. However, it will only happen if we get moving.

Win or lose the same group of Senators will return to Washington, D.C. for a session that will include a break for Thanksgiving and then end sometime in December before Christmas. If a vote does not occur on the CRPD during that time, then it will not be taken up again unless the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee elects to hold hearings, draft a resolution, and successfully gets it voted out of Committee in 2015-2016. Basically, it's a case of starting from scratch for the third time.

The current Chairman, Robert Menendez (D, NJ), if he remains Chairman, may not be thrilled about bringing the CRPD up again because Senator Tom Harkin (D, IA), the man who has done much of the pushing since the spring of 2014, will have retired, and won't be around to help. For Senator Menendez there will be many priorities. The CRPD may not be one of them. Then, there's also the possibility that Republicans will take control of the Senate. They need six more seats. The polls are showing their prospects are good (see www.realclearpolitics.com). That would mean most likely that Senator Bob Corker (R,TN) would become Chairman of the Committee. He opposes ratification of the CRPD. So in all likelihood no action of any kind would happen on the CRPD in 2015-2016.

I offer this background to point out a stark fact -- Senators of both parties need to hear from us now while they are home/before the elections while we have some leverage. What leverage, you say? Democrats are worried about voter turn out in tight races. Republicans are delicately shifting to the center to pick up independent votes in tight races. We can influence voter turn out. We can affect which way independents turn. BUT ONLY IF WE BECOME A VOCAL VOICE IN SUPPORT OF THE CRPD at candidate forums and Senators' town hall meetings. By asking where EVERY Senator stands on the CRPD, and if they are for it, asking if they will ask Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, NV) for a floor vote before Christmas, we can get the CRPD to a vote before Christmas.

Of course such actions/questions will have much more traction and build momentum if we report what we learn on social media and inspire others to do the same. It would be as simple as saying "Senator X supports #CRPD and will ask Senator Reid for a vote" on Twitter.

If you want a full picture of what Senate seats are safe, sort of safe, at risk of being changed, sort of at risk of being changed, or toss ups see the Real Clear Politics map --http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2014/senate/2014_elections_senate_map.html

I sure hope everyone goes into high gear, goes to events, and starts reporting what they learn on Twitter. We have five weeks to demonstrate our leverage, so let's do so with gusto. Ok?

Thank you.
Common Grounder

CRPD: What Doesn't the Opposition Understand?

I have been reading the tweets of the opposition to ratification today. They all thank Senator Mike Lee. Today Senator Lee blocked Senator Harkin's unanimous consent request to proceed to debate and a vote on the CRPD. The request would have allowed two hours of debate each for both sides, those for and against ratification. The Harkin request was the SAME ONE OFFERED ON DECEMBER 4, 2012 to which NO ONE OBJECTED.

Many questions are swirling in my head. If Senator Lee did not object then, why did he object today? Do Senator Lee and those who agree with him fear debate? Do they think we will stop trying? Why do they not acknowledge the changes in the CRPD that address their concerns? Why do they dismiss, ignore, or decline overtures to allow amendments to the CRPD resolution? The RIGHT remove for Senator Lee today would have been to amend Senator Harkin's request to allow for floor amendments to address perceived unresolved issues.

The foundation of the opposition has crumbled. They fear they cannot win a fair debate. Their objective is defeating ratification, rather than writing a clear resolution. It is beyond unsettling that people who think like this can win just by stalling a vote.

We must show them that the substance in the CRPD is powerful, consistent with U.S. principles, values, and laws, and will do no harm. To do that we need a debate. To do that we need a vote.

The alternative, no vote, is untenable. The U.S. was not created out of fear of what people could do to each other but out of a promise of what we could do if we worked together and recognized the rights of all.

Everyone knows I want a vote THIS WEEK. Look at all the empty time on the Senate floor today. There is time to debate a CRPD resolution. Senator Harkin's effort is not the end. We have another chance if Senator Majority Leader Reid would schedule a vote. He wants us to wait till after the elections, November 4th. He wants a guarantee of 67 votes before he schedules a vote. I bet there are enough fence sitters to get us to 67 if Senator Reid would schedule a vote between now and Friday. If enough of us suggest it to him maybe he will. His number is 202.224.3542.

If he doesn't agree with us, then read my last blog post. It outlines what we need to do between now and November 12th when the Senate returns.

Thank you.
Common Grounder