HB 5077 Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5).  Presession filed.  (at the request of Budget and Management Division, Oregon Department of Administrative Services) -- Relating to state financial administration; appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.

1-12 (H) First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
Referred to Ways and Means.
5-5 Assigned to Subcommittee On Human Services.
5-12 Public Hearing held.
Public Hearing and Work Session held.
Returned to Full Committee.
5-17 Work Session held.
5-19 Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed A-Engrossed.
5-23 Second reading.
5-24 Third reading. Carried by Richardson. Passed.
Ayes, 49; Nays, 10--Barnhart, Boquist, Buckley, Dingfelder, Holvey, Merkley, Nelson, Shields, Thatcher, Wirth; Excused, 1--Tomei. Vote explanation(s) filed by Barnhart.

5-25 (S) First reading. Referred to President's desk.
6-2 Referred to Ways and Means.
6-3 Recommendation: Do pass the A-Eng. bill.
Second reading.
6-6 Third reading. Carried by Schrader. Passed.
Ayes, 18; Nays, 10--Atkinson, Ferrioli, George, Kruse, Morrisette, Prozanski, Starr, B., Starr, C., Walker, Whitsett; Excused, 1--Beyer; Attending Legislative Business, 1--Brown.
Vote explanation(s) filed by Prozanski.

6-10 (H) Speaker signed.
6-10 (S) President signed.
6-14 (H) Governor signed.
Chapter 212, (2005 Laws): Effective date June 14, 2005.

Recently Senator Morrisette was asked whether adding new language to a new medical marijuana bill would prevent the sort of raid that was done by the House in 5077.  He said no.  We have testified about this but that is the answer we get.  None of us like the answer, but there it is.  Others are certainly free to get other opinions and find us an answer we like better.  You would be a hero.  But, it sounds like if there is some extra money, they (legislators) can get it no matter what we would have done or could still put it the OMMA.  Someone please correct us if there is new information but that is what we know at the moment.

People are correct that this sort of vulnerability makes none of us feel better.  The Senators working on the new med mj bill all voted no on HB 5077, so if anyone has language to protect the OMMA from future money raids, we would appreciate it if you would submit it to the Senators ASAP and see what they say.  Thank you in advance.

Notes and History

Recommend that the members consult with Senator Bill Morrisette to determine a proper amendment to 5077 to restore the needed funds, or if that is not possible, then ask them to kill it.

Sens Morrisette and Kruse both are working to restore funds back to the program and protect them in the future-there will likely be no return of all of it, but Sen M seems dedicated to restoring whatever it takes to preserve the program AND pay for whatever things like 24/7, etc. that are put into SB772.   The entire Senate leadership is aware and concerned about it.

HB5077 has been referred to Ways and Means by Senate President Peter Courtney.  Start your correspondence to the committee members in the Senate Ways and Means Committee:

Dr. Alan Bates
Party: D District: 3
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-305, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.alanbates@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/bates

Vice Chair Margeret Carter
Party: D District: 22
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-311, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.margaretcarter@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/carter

Laura Monnes Anderson
Party: D District: 25
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1725
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-310, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.lauriemonnesanderson@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/monnesanderson

Co-Chair Kurt Schrader
Party: D District: 20
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1720
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-209, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.kurtschrader@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/schrader

Ben Westlund R-27
Party: R District: 27
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1727
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-211, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.benwestlund@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/westlund

Jackie Winters R-10
Party: R District: 10
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-212, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: http://www.leg.state.or.us/winters

Summary: There has been a terrible bill passed thru the Oregon State House - HB 5077 - which takes $900,000 from OMMP bank account and puts into general fund.  This will bankrupt the program and eliminate any chance of anything in 772 which requires OMMP expenditures to fail -AND / OR- it will force a fee raise.  Contact the Committee NOW.

Stealing these funds is a short sighted solution to a budget shortfall.  In the long run, this will require the program to seek operating expense money from the general fund.  What was a self sufficient program will become a drain on the taxpayers.

Thank you for your inquiry about Oregon Medical Marijuana Program funds.  When our registration program started in May 1999, it was a "first of its kind" and so we worked with program advocates to determine an appropriate fee.  Based on an estimate of 500 patients and staffing needs for running a registry, we came up with an annual fee of $150 per patient.

Over the next few years the number of patients increased dramatically and we established a significant cash balance.  Because of this, in July 2003, we reduced fees for renewals and established even lower fees for patients who were low income (on the OR Health Plan, or SSI).  Still our cash balance continued to increase due to increased numbers of registered patients * now over 10,000.  So in January 2005, we implemented a new fee schedule of $55 dollars for either an initial application or a renewal, and provide a very reduced fee of $20 for low income patients.

This fee level can't fully support the program.  The rationale behind this reduction was that with these lower fees, our steady operating costs, and some commitments to special projects (such as a 24/7 verification system), we would end up with a reasonable cash balance at the end of the 2005-2007 biennium.  We would likely have to raise fees again at that time.

We have always told patients that they didn't need to worry about the cash balance because our understanding is that fee programs such as the OMMP could not be used to subsidize other programs.  However, we were recently informed that LFO is planning on utilizing $900,000 of our existing cash balance to offset other budget priorities.  I have attached the relevant LFO document for your review.  The transfer is included in Increased Other Fund Revenues of $3.2 million on page 7, and is spelled out in more detail on page 8.  As I think you already know, the vehicle for making such a fund transfer happen is HB 5077.

If this bill does go through unchanged, we will likely have to raise fees as early as this summer instead of 2007 as planned. Let me know if you have further questions."

Status: HB 5077 was passed thru the House and is on its way to the Senate, contact your rep TODAY.   Rally planned for Wed., June 1st, 10am, see Action, below.

Continue to Educate your House rep anyway as a "closure" strategy and to prepare for the next time they do this.   Lets get "How They Voted" developed like at > http://mercycenters.org/vote_OR.htm.   Send us your info -or- post to your respective lists (like DPFOR).

Ayes, 49; Nays, 10--Barnhart, Boquist, Buckley, Dingfelder, Holvey, Merkley, Nelson, Shields, Thatcher, Wirth; Excused, 1--Tomei.

Please write your legislator who voted no and say thanks.

KINK, 102 FM in Portland had a brief story about the bill on at 7am today.  It included a passionate argument made Representative Buckley on the House floor.

This kind of vote sends a clear signal to the Senate that there are problems with this bill.  Please continue to follow up with your senators

thanks,

Lee Berger,
Portland
lelandberger@comcast.net

Now, on to the Senate!   Same action plan - see talking points (in ANALYSIS section) and call, email, write and visit the reps.   This is one "voting" you can & should do early and often.

Our hope is to focus displeasure over that part so that we may get it reconsidered.  It may get amended in the Senate, but it would require that the Speaker agree that the OMMP part is a problem.

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS NOW!!  KILL HB 5077 - THIS IS NO JOKE!!  Make sure everyone in that building gets piles of messages - We, the people, are screwed if this passes.   STEALING MONEY FROM SICK PEOPLE, CRIPPLED PEOPLE AND DYING PEOPLE IS CRIMINAL.  ACT NOW!!  CALL, WRITE, EMAIL POLITE FORCEFUL COMMUNICATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE NOW!!

Contacts: Use these links help with contacting state reps:

(Find Your Legislator)

(write your legislator)

For examples:

Senate President Senator Peter Courtney (D) D-Salem/ Gervais/Woodburn District: 11 900 Court St. NE S-203 Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-986-1600 FAX: 503-986-1004 eMail: courtney.sen@state.or.us	or Human Services Subcommittee Members. Such as: Senator Laurie Monnes-Anderson (D) District 25 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1725 Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-310 Salem, OR 97301 E-Mail: sen.lauriemonnes-anderson@state.or.us
Or Patient friendly - Senator Bill Morrisette (D) District 6 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1706 Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-306 Salem, OR 97301 E-Mail: sen.billmorrisette@state.or.us	Senator Alan Bates District 3 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703 Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-305 Salem, OR 97301 E-Mail: sen.alanbates@state.or.us

The OMMP is being robbed of its registration fee surplus funds.  There is over a million dollars in the OMMP Budget right now and the Joint Ways and Means Committee is trying to take $900,000 of it, calling an "emergency!"  This will cause program fees to go back up!

There is a call for a peaceful rally to show discontent with HB 5077.

The rally will be at the Oregon State Capitol on the front steps on Wednesday, June 1st, 2005 at 10:00 am.  Press releases are being sent out and there is hope of gaining positive media coverage at the event.

There will have signs available, speakers (TBA), and a STRONG VOICE as a GROUP to object to HB5077.  Join it.

Please dress conservatively (you represent all those that couldn't make it.  You're their rep!), keep in mind that this is a peaceful, non-smoking rally - and remember your sunscreen and bumpershoots.

There is also a hearing on Senate Bill 772 scheduled for Wednesday in the afternoon.

Social gathering to follow at Lefty's Pizzeria on State Street in Salem.  Time: TBA

Your presence is necessary!  We need to stop this bad legislation from happening!  If you need a ride from the Portland area, you can meet up at Pho's between 8:15 am-8:40 am, (traffic!!) but please contact Schorts or Big Stevo first to confirm your spot!

Spread the word!  Click here for flyer.  For more info visit: http://oregongreenfree.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5622  Or http://oregongreenfree.com/forums/index.php?act=calendar&code=showevent&eventid=97

Hi DPFOR:

Michelle Cole of the Oregonian Capitol Bureau interviewed me (and hopefully others) about HB 5077.  I told her one consequence of HB 5077 may be the fees going back up in the near future.  Dr. Higginson said the same thing in his letter to Rep Buckley.

Ms. Cole called me back today and asked:

1.  Is there a patient she could talk to who might be affected by the raising back of the fees back up to $100 to $150?  She would like to add an human story to all the math, I think.  I told her some patients may not be able to register because of the possible extra $100.  Is that true?

Contact her at:   Phone 503-221-8234,  503-370-3649  (fax) and email  michellecole@news.oregonian.com.

2.  Is there going to be a rally at the Capitol?

(See Action Items).   I told her that I would put her two questions to a forum and ask anyone who wanted to talk to Ms. Cole contact her directly.  Contact her if you want to talk to her about the above questions related to HB 5077.

She said she will publish the story "soon" about HB 5077.  Thanks for everyone's support in trying to stop or amend HB 5077.

Rick Bayer
Portland
ricbayer@comcast.net

See Media Notes, below.

Thanks to all for your continued help.  We do have good chance of changing this bill.  Education is needed and we may first have a chance in the Senate after the bill comes from the house.  If the Senate education effort succeeds and they amend the bill, it will most likely be resubmitted to a floor vote to approve the changes.  If the education process is working theamendments we may get in the Senate will be approved in the House.

We want our rep and senator to vote NO on HB 5077 so the OMMP is not forced into a fee increase simply to operate.  The LFO report is based on faulty assumptions that were discussed in yesterday's letter.

Suggestions on the best next step?  An OMMA advocate, after consideration and counsel, left a message with state narcotics officer Durbin that *our* 24/7 permit verification system is in peril if HB 5077 passes as is.  So, LE should know that passing HB 5077 is not going to help any movement toward the 24/7 permit verification they testify that they seek.

OMMA proponents should stop HB 5077 or try an amendment to exclude the OMMP.  We also need to recruit help from our legislators and find out what is going on here.

The alternative of inaction or hesitation with a possible floor vote tomorrow means we may lose $900,000 in patient fees without even trying to contact our legislators and educate them that something funny is going on.  If HB 5077 passes the House and Senate, then we need Gov K to veto it so good luck to us.  The suggestion from several is we contact our legislators now and try to educate them.

It would be nice to have a couple of weeks, some subcommittee hearings that we know about in advance, and more information before we act; but we don't.  Instead, it appears we have a deadline that started yesterday.  The vote will occur sooner this coming week if we are not so lucky and later (and later) if we are more fortunate.  That is why some of us are so concerned.

Everyone please write his her representative this weekend and tell all your friends and family to please do the same.

Ideally, we may get this sneaky legislative black bag job out into the light of day and educate everyone.  Until then, we have to do our best.  We have to weigh the risk of acting on incomplete information already gathered versus the risk of doing nothing.  The risk of doing nothing is a nearly guaranteed $.9 million theft of patient fees with transfer to general fund according to Dr. Higginson and verified verbally by the legislative fiscal office.

It's uncertain if we can stop HB 5077 but if we value the OMMP we should do our best.  The resultant eventual return of the fee increase if HB 5077 passes will hurt those can afford it least.  Please help keep the program affordable, encourage people to register, and keep medical marijuana patients from being arrested.

Any other thoughts?  Let's make sure we contact every rep and senator in the state ASAP.

Thank you.

FAQS

Q: Is stealing the OMMP funds the only thing in the bill or is that one of many provisions designed to balance the budget?

A: 5077 rebalances the entire DHS budget and OMMP funds are only a part of the reshuffle.  Most folks in the building were not aware that 5077 did any specific thing other than shuffle funds - activists are fairly certain, for example, there was not an amendment which said "and we steal 900 G's from the marijuana guys" But it is specifically punishing this class of citizens none the less.

Q: How did it get here?

A: Regarding the time line of HB5077, it was introduced at the same time as most of the 5000 series budget bills and like them was blank-

Q: Will there be hearings like the ones for 772 at which time we can state our position?   Somebody behind closed doors has had the attention of that committee, can we suggest amendments to the legislation?

A: There *already* was a public hearing in the Human Services subcommittee of the Joint Ways and Means committee.  They passed it out with a "do pass" recommendation.  It is now going to go to a floor vote in the House and floor vote in the Senate.

Q: At the beginning of this legislative session and the start of the Alliance Meetings many people myself included and most definately MERCY were running searches for all bills or activity in Salem that pertained to the OMMP, MJ, or Hemp.

I believe that MERCY at one point had 7 different bills that in one way or another had some direct or indirect effect on MMJ or Hemp and none of them were 5077......

Anyone have any idea how it was kept off the radar when it supposedly started out in January?

A: This is something that DHS does every session and sometimes between sessions, reallocations of funds.

This bill and apparently all of the revenue bills we've learned, are left blank 'til they can figure out what the tax revenues are going to be for the biennium.  It is believed the source of HB5077 is the head of DHS, keen to see the big programs stay funded as much as possible.  And as far as they or any one in their fiscal department would be concerned it would be the "dollars on account" numbers and where are they needed.  It seems apparent what someone there thinks of the OMMP!

For example, Independent Living Centers.  They are funded by Federal and State tax funds and any grants they can get funded.  Two sessions ago they granted and then took away monies dedicated to some low cost grassroot start-up IL centers.  Several centers were hard hit and were forced to do major rethinking of how to provide the same services with out any of this money until next session, maybe, when DHS could allocate more money.

Due to the budget cuts we've seen over the years since the implementation of Measure 5 (talk about people voting against thier own best interests) the non-cost-effective programs that served the most people - you know the greater good and all - were always able to go to the head of DHS with their woes and have been able to get money reallocated so their inefficient yet totally indespensible programs could stay afloat.

--- Some FACTs ---

OMMP would still exist if HB 5077 passes; it is just likely the OMMP patient fees will go back up or we will have no 24/7 permit verification or both.  Will we lose staff?  Longer turnaround times?  Who knows?  Whatever happens, rest assured it will have the hardest impact on the poorest among us.

If you read the legislation, you will see how nonspecific the information is.  There is a mysterious "legislative fiscal office" analysis that targets OMMP.  We are trying to get this information and have contacted legislators to ask for a report from OMMP.  That report is pending and the fiscal analysis is pending.

See also "MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROVIDES OREGON WITH BADLY NEEDED CASH" at: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81 and "Milton Friedman and 500+ Economists Call for Marijuana Regulation Debate as New Report Estimates Savings New Report Projects $10-14 Billion Annual Savings and Revenues."

"In a report released today (June 2, 2005), Dr. Jeffrey Miron, visiting professor of economics at Harvard University, estimates that replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation similar to that used for alcoholic beverages would produce combined savings and tax revenues of between $10 billion and $14 billion per year.  In response, a group of more than 500 distinguished economists -- led by Nobel Prize-winner Dr. Milton Friedman -- released an open letter to President Bush and other public officials calling for "an open and honest debate about marijuana prohibition," adding, "We believe such a debate will favor a regime in which marijuana is legal but taxed and regulated like other goods."   Click here >> to see more.

HISTORY

01/12 (H)
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

01/12 (H)
Referred to Ways and Means.

05/05 (H)
Assigned to Subcommittee On Human Services.

05/12 (H)
Public Hearing held.

05/12 (H)
Public Hearing and Work Session held.

05/12 (H)
Returned to Full Committee.

05/17 (H)
Work Session held.

The flesh of budget bill only starts to be applied when the W+M committee starts work in earnest, which was in May.  The events at the hearings can be found out about online.

The first word of the contents to be of 5077 to an activist in the medical cannabis community on Tuesday 5/17 afternoon late and relayed the actions of the Ways and Means that day.

Activists spent Wednesday on the phone with various legislative offices and staffers trying to track down where the bill really went.  There was some confusion on Wednesday with Leg Fiscal Office mistakenly telling them it went back to the Speaker's desk for reassignment to the House Budget Committee.  They initiated contacts with several folks on the committee including Rep March and Richardson.

Thursday a.m. the activist community reps contacted the Legislative Reps again - which included Rep Buckley (a friendly) - who responded with a request for info on the fees and balance which was forwarded to OMMP for the info about noon.  In early pm activists called the Speaker's office to track down HB5077 and found out it was scheduled for floor debate on Monday (5/23) probably but maybe later.  Because of that, there was no chance to amend the bill in a committee before that action so the kill call was sent out.

The Senate may provide a chance to amend, but it would take convincing Sen. Courtney to refer it to the Senate Budget committee.  Then it would have to go to a reconciliation committee to make both bills agree - and we have little control over how that would occur - simplest way would be to simply eliminate any Senate amendment - and they like simple towards this end of the session.  

Otherwise it is going to take either a down vote or a veto to stop it.  Activists have contacted several staffers in the Gov. K's office including the Human Resources advisor, the Legislative Liaison Office and the Gov's personal assistant and sent the exchange with Richardson.  The reply back from Humans Resource advisor was that they were "aware of this bill and we have been tracking its progress)- a certainly neutral, factual answer.  We will try to keep everyone posted as we find out more regarding their view of the affair.

Details: The text of HB5077 is in PDF at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/measpdf/hb5000.dir/hb5077.intro.pdf or in html at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/measures/hb5000.dir/hb5077.intro.html

More links to Text follows (see below).  Note that it declares an emergency so that it can go into almost immediate effect.

To find Bills ONLINE - Go Bills and Laws web page ( http://www.leg.state.or.us/cgi-bin/searchMeas.pl ), then to measure text, then to Search for Specific Measure Number.  In this case type in hb 5700 where needed-bingo!   Text link and history link-history is not up to date.  TIP: All budget bills are numbered 5000+

ANALYSIS

It means the demise of 24/7 and the demise of reduced fees.  Stated differently, if this bill passes, we will lose the fee reduction and delay the implementation of 24/7.

Make no mistake, this is war on the poorest and most dis-advantaged class of sick and dying people in Oregon.  Ask your representative and senator to stop HB 5077.

For what it is worth, in 2003 with 4700 patients we were able to make every call to some offices for some days be about last session's bad bill - HB2939.  There are 10,000 of us now and if that building has anything but killing this on their mind after about Tuesday next, it better not be our fault. Call, write, email, visit and do it again.  And again.   Here are a couple of talking points.  Others can add more and improve the language.

1. The large budget cash surplus is a managerial mistake made by a previous OMMP manager who recently left the program.  Patients should not be penalized for an error by OMMP management.  Patients should not be penalized by losing surplus fees to the general fund because OMMP delayed fee lowering thus allowing this large balance of patient fee money to accumulate.

2. After OMMP was reminded of the cash surplus by patients, a fee lowering finally began in January 2005 with plans to lower the cash balance to minimum necessary operating levels over 24 months.  We are part-way through this process.  In addition, money has been verbally budgeted toward a 24/7 OMMP stand-alone query-only permit verification network.  Both OMMA advocates and law enforcement reached consensus that a 24/7 system is a good idea and have testified to this effect in the Senate.  But, HB 5077 puts any consensus plans in jeopardy.

In other words, it is unfair to transfer 90% (or any %) of patient fees temporarily residing in the cash balance to the general fund.  Not only should this money be returned to patients and spent on patients through lower fees and better services but this "cash balance" is already spent.  Any raid on this temporary surplus must be stopped and therefore HB 5077 should be voted down.

MANY, Many thanx to those who contributed to this info!  We beg for comments and any info any others may have.

LTL (Letters-To-yer-Legislator) Examples -

Example #A Kill HB5077! Dear Senator Courtney, Please keep HB5077 on your desk!  It is a bad bill, using a short sighted, one time solution to a continuing biennial problem of funding DHS and all general fund supported services.  It appears to be an under handed attempt to take $900,000 in fees collected by Oregon's Medical Marijuana Program to fund taxpayer/general fund mandated DHS programs.   Reallocating these fees, paid by some of Oregon's most vulnerable patients, is tantamount to theft. HB5077 will cripple the advances to OMMA proposed by DHS in SB772, meant to help make brighter lines for Law Enforcement.  HB5077 will make LE's job of trying to control illicit marijuana more difficult.  Things like, a computer system for 24x7/365 verification of enrollment in the OMMP and others improvements making it easier and safer for patients to access and use the medicine that makes their quality of life worth living will probably not come to pass either.  HB5077 will drive up the cost of fees paid by registrants, which were recently lowered a second time to a most reasonable rate, designed to not raise excess funds. This money was generated from fees higher than were needed to fund the program prior to current enrollment levels.  These funds should have been refunded or used for the advantage of the patients enrolled in the program.  Instead, because of a mean spirited administration of the program it was bankrolled and saved for ill-defined purposes.  Now those purposes seem to be defined with HB5077, cripple the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program by taking its funds!  No funds, no program! If the Republican leadership in the House wants to fund DHS services or anything else with money collected from the use of marijuana perhaps they should get real and talk about taxation and regulation of cannabis for the 21+ year old public?  We already use tobacco, alcohol and gambling money to fund many indispensable programs and services, why not step up and change the paradigm?  Less than 10,000 mostly low-income, many eligible for OHP people, paying $150/year accumulated the money wanted by HB5077.   Fees taken from sick people to pay the wages of healthy people, a novel concept!  Now, in our continuing times of low tax receipts and this States lack of fair taxation, we are looking at taking money raised by sick people and their LEGAL use of marijuana for what purpose in DHS we don't exactly know. Again this is a short sighted, one time solution to an ongoing problem with under funding of DHS due to excessive tax break concessions to groups that pay few if any taxes to do business in this state!  Never again will we raise almost a million dollars in this program to be siphoned off when the account gets ripe again! Please, stop HB5077! Sincerely, X. Xxxx Xxxxx

Please email yours or enter in the Bulletin Board.

The committee work session time and the rally time, at least the main, press related part, should NOT occur at the same time.

A uniform, clear, simple and sympathetic message must be at the core of any media outreach.  Uniform because you can confuse the media's understanding of what is important by a bunch of people saying a variety of things instead of the one main thing.

Clear, because our friends, the reporters can get confused abut things relating to mmj,as we know, and if they are they public is not educated but confused as well.

Simple, because 1) see above and 2) time and space is limited for our story.

Sympathetic, (well duh?!?) and sympathetic approaches do best without overt attacks on another person or persons or questions of individual motives of the legislators involved.   Showing our pain and suffering is good.  Being seen as obviously trying to cause some sort of pain and suffering on another is bad.

I know all that is possible with a concerted effort at community which seems to be starting.  I do sincerely appreciate fresher faces with unfamiliar stories stepping up and taking the lead on things like this.  I may know my way around the building better than many, but the floor plan is simple and people tend to stick around for long enough to get to know them.  I look forward to having a lot more company on the rounds there.

This closing thought.  That place is like 3-D matrix chess, but the pieces move only if you convince them to.

Make it emotional and peaceful in spirit and factual in order to reach the minds of peaceful truth seeking agreable citizens.  Make people want to agree with you so they can be more positive and influential.  People want to listen to what will effect them personally.   Some people just want to listen to the truth.

Tell them everything everyone wants rather than everything that went wrong.  More people can help when you tell them things that are terrible with a way out.   Less people can help when you tell them terrible things and no way out.

Keep it positive with a way out.  Even when the way out is not the way everybody wants.  Empower the people with the truth and a hope to solve problems together in a peaceful manner.

Questions?  Comments?   Need some info?   Got some info?   E-Mail us or visit the Bulletin Board for further comments on this bill -or- to post your own.

Monday, July 3 at 07:52 AM:
wpi from Hungary wrote:
"Showing deciding on the position."