CALL TO ACTION:
The Sunset Commission proposals are in HR 3277 and HR 2470. As we indicated in our last memo, the bills would call for the creation of a commission (mostly appointed by the President) which would have the power to review all governmental programs as well as funding to state and private programs on a periodic basis and could curtail or end them as the commission decided...without any input from Congress.
In a special phone conference held this out of Washington, D.C., it was described as a special meat axe approach to curtailing government with no input from the public or the legislative branch of government. Similar efforts began during the Nixon administration but were beaten back over the years. This new effort is the most threatening attempt yet, with the White House fully behind the push.
IT IS IMPORTANT that we send the message to our Representatives from Illinois that in no way should they lend their support to these efforts either now or in the future. The key Representatives from our state that we need to contact on this issue as soon as possible are:
Tim Johnson - Central East Illlinois
Ray LaHood - Central West Illinois
Danny Davis - Southeast Chicago
Melissa Bean - Northwest Chicago Suburbs
Daniel Lipinski - Southwest Chicago Suburbs
Jerry Costello - Southwest Illinois
IF ANY OF THEIR DISTRICTS ARE IN YOUR SERVICE AREA, PLEASE URGE YOUR CONSUMERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF AND FRIENDS OF YOUR AGENCY TO SEND TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE:
"Children and adults with disabilities throughout your district would be in danger if the Sunset Commission Proposals would become law. We therefore urge you to vote against HR 3277 and HR 2470 should they come up for a vote in committee or on the floor."
Thanks for your help in this crucial effort!
