[Headline] Neither Wind, nor Rain, nor Sleet...

Unusual would be the watchword for the action in DC this "spring." ADAPT moved the spring action to February 26th through March 2nd, in order to follow up with the National Governor's Association, NGA, on the resolution supporting community services which was introduced in Seattle last summer. Icy temperatures, snow and rain were in the cards, but so be it!

[Subheading] CMS Director Doctor McClellan Makes a House Call

We began with a meeting with the Director of Medicaid and Medicare, Dr. Mark McClellan, who came to our hotel. First he met with a small group of representatives who talked with him about their experiences getting out of nursing homes and other institutional settings and about what it's now like living free in the com

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[image caption] The ADAPT marches to the NGA, resolution in tow. Photo by Tim Wheat.

[text resumes] -munity. He said that getting Money Follows the Person (MFP) through was a high priority of his administration.

From that smaller meeting, Dr. McClellan met with all of the ADAPT folks there for the action. He spoke about how we had definitely convinced him of the importance of ensuring that people have real choice to live in the community, and that was one of his goals. He also said that he understood the importance of the safety net provided by the federal side of the Medicaid program AND that he had no intention of block granting Medicaid. He talked about Money Follows the Person, both as a state initiative supported by CMS - and the national demonstration program bill that was introduced later in the week (S. 528).

After speaking for a while, he took questions from the group. It was clear folks were very concerned about threats to long term care funding and block grants, etc. But while people remained wary of the proposed Medicaid cuts and the lurking threat of block granting, they were impressed by his straightforward approach and non-paternalistic attitude and respect for our desire for real choice. Notwith-standing his words, people felt the pres-sure is needed to hold the adminis-tration and Congress to their word.

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[image caption] Mark McClellan meets with ADAPT. Photo by Tim Wheat.

[Subheading] Taking It to the Streets

After our big meeting we lined up and headed off to our main focus of the action, the Governors. We marched through the chilly streets in the late afternoon light. Everyone was focused and determined that the NGA know our purpose Literally hundreds of people with all types of disabilities from all over the nation were there to see that the NGA did the right thing. As we got about half way to their fancy hotel, the JW Marriott, NGA Executive Director Ray Scheppach, called on the phone: Could we meet? We said we would be right over.

Scheppach and several of his staff came out to greet us in front of the hotel. ADAPT leaders and NGA staff held their meeting on the front steps of the hotel, while the other four hundred of us waited. As that meeting was taking place Governor Rendell, the sponsor of the resolution, called to say he was away at a meeting but would be coming back very soon and also wanted to meet with us. Scheppach and staff were telling our leadership that they were trying to get through as strong a resolution as possible. They thought what they had done was the strongest they could get through, and that they wanted our help on the Medicaid cuts.

[Subheading] Tapping into New Technology for the Direct Message

Bumping up the tension a bit, people began to call the hotel and ask for their Governors. Several got through, and the Governor of Montana came out to meet with his constituents. The Governor of Michigan came out to look over the crowd with a concerned expression. In addition to our visit and our calls, people from all over the nation were faxing the Governors with the resolution that had originally been introduced, requesting they support the original version. Over 500 messages were faxed before the fax machines were shut down!

Governor Rendell arrived and spoke with the group. He said that al-though the resolution had
been watered down some in committee, he was going to keep working to make it as close to the original as possible.

[Subheading] Sunrise Start

The next morning we were up and out on the street before the sun, a neat trick when hundreds of you are sharing the services of a limited number of attendants and a limited number of elevators. It was freezing cold and a huge snowstorm was predicted, but all were out and rolling with the crowd as we took off. The Governors were scheduled to go over to the White House for a meeting at 9:00 am, and we wanted to be there before they left. As we marched off in the streets of the Capitol, we were glad we had even beat the rush hour! To our surprise the police did not notice 400 of us had moved out until we were almost at the Governors' hotel. Thanks to our early departure we even arrived before the snow started.

[Headline] Blocking the JW

Arriving at the hotel, two groups headed straight to the front doors and

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[image caption] Governors load up to go to the White House. Photo by Min Wheat.

driveway while four others took the main intersection. The groups at the door blocked it solid and closed down the driveway so business as usual was far from usual. The other groups blocked the four streets and then wrapped the intersection in yellow caution tape. No one would be using that major intersection. Both of these actions had led to quick arrests in the past, but today the protest gods were watching - or so it seemed.

Once in place our occupation began. We spotted the paratransit type vans that were to take the Governors to the White House and a commando group went to block their exit out the back way. We held them in for 45 minutes past their intended departure time and then suddenly a large group of Secret Service and other security types came out in a football Flying V formation Descending on the folks blocking the back exit, they literally lifted power wheelchairs off the group like pole bearers carrying some rajah. Moving folks to the side, others block tackled those of us not in wheelchairs, and the Governors made a mad dash for the vans. The van drivers, once loaded up, gunned their engines and shot out over the curb and sidewalk. Steve Verriden said it looked like "popcorn Governors" inside as the vans whisked them away from the people and off to the White House meeting, which just happened to be on Medicaid reform.

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[image caption] Activists block the White House gates. Photo by Tim Wheat.

[Subheading] Freezing Butts to Free Our People!

Once the Governors were gone, we formed up again and marched off to the White House to continue our vigil. By now the snow was coming down and as we reached the White House a strange mist mingled with the snow. We lined up in front of the sacred fence at the 16th Street side of the building, and those who were willing to be arrested chained or hand-cuffed themselves to the fence. Hail bounced from the sidewalk as chants bounced back and forth among the group for the hours we held our position. It got colder and wetter as the hours passed. The weird "businessmen" wandered across the lawns with their oversized briefcases and pet German Shepherd dogs. Normally stopping at the fence is an arrest action, but not today. The cold and damp were penetrating, but people remained strong in their dedication. The Governors' meeting was ending, and people wanted to be sure our statement was heard.

Those who were will-ing to get arrested to show their commitment to having the Governors and the President make a stronger stand for freedom and Real Choice moved to the gates and chained themselves there. Touching the gates is a major offense. The police said that they were getting the paddy wagons, but another hour passed and they did nothing. We later learned there were orders from somewhere--no arrests.

[Subheading] Kick Off MiCASSA

Our last day in DC was our time to visit legislators and remind them to sign on to the newly introduced Senate and House versions of MiCASSA (S. 401 and HR 910) and Money Follows the Person (S. 528). Breaking into our groups again we went to every office in the Capitol to share our message.

The Governors, who voted on the resolution that morning, had definitely heard us. However, in the end they passed a resolution that did move more toward the goals of the action and of ADAPT but left out important elements of the solution including any mention of the Olmstead decision. This battle is far from over, but state strategies will be essential.

[Subheading] Senator Harkin Pays a Visit

Returning back in the evening, we had one more major event. One of our members, Skip Smith from Kansas ADAPT, had made a painting for Senator Harkin, who has been such a long time supporter of disability rights, MiCASSA, Money Follows the Person and more. We invited Senator Harkin to come and receive the painting, and he came to speak to us He was eloquent in his dedication to disability rights, to freedom and justice for our people. He talked about the long hard struggle, and how now we must find the strength to renew our push for justice because of the many dangerous proposals being floated around the Capitol, proposals for Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and more. These radical reforms might drive right over people with disabilities if we don't recommit to the struggle.

Spitfire presented the Senator with an ADAPT T-shirt and a set of the chains we had used at the White House the day before Even as the ADAPT party that now culminates every ADAPT action began, the Senator was seen visiting with folks in the crowd.

Highlighting this action were the many new people from new places who joined us, including several representatives from SABE (Self Advocates Becoming Empowered). Their energy and enthusiasm for the action was a delight to those of us who have been plugging away for some time now.

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[image caption] Harkin accepts his T-shirt and chains. Photo by Tim Wheat

With the federal government moving rapidly with its states rights agenda and turning services and supports back on the states alone, we must look toward home for our next steps Each Governor, along with our state legislatures and state bureaucrats will be crafting their plans and budgets and our attention must focus with this now. What is happening in your state? What will you do to make the issues real in your area?

Created on

Tuesday 23 July 2013

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Friday 4 December 2020

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