Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 1983)
Portland Qb—rver, June 15, 1983 Page 5 W ashington Hot Une PERS by Congressman Kon H'vden Q After weeks of unfavorable publicity, the Reagan administre don recently exempted a number of recipients of disability benefits from a review procees. What did that policy change accomplish? A . I l '* biggest accomplishment was a saving o f face for (he administra tion. Unfortunately, it did virtually nothing to address the fundamental question: W hat criteria should be used to determine which disability benefit recipients should be re viewed and which should not? In 1980, Congress directed the Department o f Health and Human Services to review the cases o f dis ability recipients. The purpose o f the review was to determine if the recipients could reasonably be ex pected to resume work. In its zeal to prune benefits, how ever, the administration questioned the eligibility o f groups obviously unable to resume work. These groups include persons who are mentally handicapped with IQs below 70 and at least one other dis ability as well as persons over 55 with muscular, lung or circulatory disorders such as arteriosclerosis or emphysema. Such ham-handed procedures have contributed to several em bar rassing situations for the adminis tration. including the recent cutting o f benefits o f a Vietnam veteran to whom President Reagan awarded the Congressional Medal o f Honor. In addition, a significant m ajority o f those who have appealed the cut backs have had their benefits re stored. The administration's recent change o f heart, which exempts tens o f thousands o f mentally and phy sically disabled Americans from review, sounds good on the surface. In reality, however, it does little to bring sense to the review process. For example, mental patients diagnosed with severe depression would still be subject to review under the administration's new plan. Disabled Americans deserve bet ter than a mere healing o f the ad ministration's self-inflicted wounds. They deserve a benefits review process that is just and equitable, and that meets their legitimate needs. Q What Is the significance of President Reegen's recent firing of three members of the U.8. Commission on Civil Rights? A. The only possible conclusion is (hat the president is attempting to staff the commission with members thgt reflect his own views, making a once prestigious impartial body into a rubber stamp for his administra tion’s often controversial civil rights policies. The nominees, M orris B. Abram . John H . Bunzel and Robert A. Destro, have a history o f echoing the president's views on busing, affirm ative action and racial quotas, a disturbing turn o f events for civil rights advocates. But perhaps the most odious and far-reaching portent o f the presi dent's action is the implied threat to the independence o f the commis sion. Originally established by Con gress in 1957 to document short comings in equal protection, the commission has historically relied on insulation from political pressure to pursue its mandate. & CAR TELEPHONES THE BEEPER PEOPLE. Under the threat o f wholesale firings, I do not see how the com mission can carry out its work. And if it does not carry out its work, the hardwon gains o f civil rights acti vists may be seriously jeopardized. „ _____ 713 S.W. 12th Street Call 224-BEEP for a free demonstration. What should I consider when I make funeral arrangements before death? Hearing addresses m inority role Chairm an Jack Brooks (D -T ex .) o f the Committee on Government Operations announced today that the Government Activities and Transportation Subcommittee will hold a hearing in Chicago, Illinois, on implementation o f section 105(f) o f the Surface Transportation Assis tance Act o f 1982. The subcommit tee is chaired by Congresswoman Cardiss Collins ( D - Ill.). The Surface Transportation As sistance Act o f 1982 authorized a 5< per gallon increase in the Federal gasoline (ax to finance repair o f the nation's deteriorating roads and bridges, completion o f the interstate highway system, and investment in mass transit capital projects. It is hoped that the legislation will create approximately 300,000 jobs through the authorization o f $70.1 billion through fiscal year 1986. Section 105(f) o f the act stipulates that 10 percent o f the amount authorized be expended with M ino rity Business Enterprises (M B E ). This translates into approximately $7 billion for fiscal years 1983 through 1986. “ The jobs and infrastructure re pairs are badly needed. I want to make sure that these funds are used wisely and that the program is man aged as effectively as possible,'* Congresswoman Collins said. “ Section 105(f) has positive potential. However, my chief con cern is that the sudden influx of funds without concomitant meas ures to guard against abuse will sabotage the intent o f the legisla tion, as well as result in inefficien cy,” she added. Illinois is expected to increase M B E participation from $9 million to $24 million this fiscal year alone. “ That is an increase o f nearly 170%. This sudden infusion of money invites fraudulent activity. For example, my staff has reviewed one case where a minority member had literally been given 51% o f a construction company's assets at one board meeting. The individual had no knowledge o f construction. This type o f activity hurts legitimate minority businesses, and damages the credibility o f the program,** M rs. Collins continued. “ O ur hearing will document the potential problems in implementing section 105(f) and the ability o f state highway and mass transit authorities to meet the 10 percent requirement. The evidence we gather will be used as a basis for recommendations to improve the operation o f the pro g ram ," Chairwoman Collins said. "L a te r this month, I will hold a second hearing on the same subject in Washington, D .C . Officials of the U .S. Department o f Transporta tion will testify at (hat tim e," she concluded. 2) What kind of funeral would my family want? 3) What help will my funeral director provide? 4) Where should I leave documents which record my wishes? 5) How can I make financial arrangements in advance? Please send for our free booklets on funeral planning. CALDWELLS «andmg alno A Tene For Sftenng COLONIAL MORTUARY H I H » i ei Servfy Hazel G . Hays, President o f the Portland Branch o f the N A A C P says, " T h e N A A C P supports the concept of an independent Human Relations Commission and feels the Portland City Council has stripped M H R C o f its independent and non- pariial means o f functioning. We are asking people who feel as N A A C P does to come out to the meeting Sunday and pick up peti tions to be filled and forwarded to the M ayor and City Council o f P o rtlan d." Mrs. Hays noted that we all know in general what has hap pened. but if people wish to carry petitions, they should be well- informed on this issue, and on Sun day they will have that opportunity by hearing Mrs. Roberts, M r. LaGuardia and M r. M ilto n . “ It is important for N A A C P to join with other community organizations in the effo rt to save the integrity o f the M etropolitan Human Relations Commission, and to restore its functions," Hays said. The N A A C P Branch membership will be briefed on the recent N o rth west Area N A A C P Conference held in Seattle. Music will be provided by the M ount Sinai Baptist Choir. Stese StreetvBeat by Lanita Duke and Richard Brown The Portland Branch has voted to dispense with Ihe general meetings in July and August, but will continue to hold Executive Committee meet ings. The next general meeting will be September 18 unless there is an emergency requiring a Branch meeting. Executive Committee meetings are always open to anyone interested in auditing them. country and our collective progress as well, we must respect the rights of the sons and daughters o f Sandino to seek their solutions to the problems o f poverty, unemploy ment, illiteracy and underdevelop ment . . . We join international pub lic opinion in supporting initiatives by the peoples o f Latin America to solve the problems o f our region." Hailed call He hailed the call for a negotiated settlement o f the war in Central America by the so-called “ Contadora group," Mexico, Venezuela, C o lombia and Panama “ It offers con crete hope for finding negotiated so lutions," he said, “ and additionally underscores the importance of peacefully settling disputes through dialogue and without resorting to Bachelors • Bachelorettes Tired M others Do you need domestic care for your home? I will clean at low cost. Call for epppolntment Ms. Spic-n-Span Cleaning Service Call » 7 3309 the use o f force or interference in the affairs o f our neighbors." "Despite the popular and defini tive character o f the Sandinista victory o f July 19. 1979, the Nicara guan people are not people left to develop their own process in peace ___ This is a matter o f grave con cern to Grenada . . . Grenada shares in the broad international outrage at the provocation to which Nicaragua has been subjected over the last w e e k ..w e decry the tremendous loss o f life ___ "W e oppose any attempt to give support to those whose objective is to destabilize the Sandinista regime and to promote strife and discord in Central America. W hat matters is the future o f the people o f the Latin American region as perceived by the people themselves. The region can not be held to ransom or made to r adhere to values and systems which others choose." (Editor's note; Bishop was refused an audience with Reagan, but did sec W illiam C lark, Reagan's national security advisor, and Deputy Secretary o f State Kenneth Dam. H e revealed that he had twice requested meetings with Reagan — in A p ril and in August o f 1982 — but his requests were not answered. W hile in the U.S. he had private meetings with O rfila and U .N . General Secretary Javier Perez de Cuellar, and spoke to the Detroit City Council, the U .N .'s Latin American delegation, a TransAfrica dinner, and Hunter College. He said the meetings with Clark and Dam went "reasonably w ell" and that he feels the threat o f an attack on Grenada has been delayed, although not removed.) Sheri Marsden Unemployed “ Yes, they should if the persons need the assistance and they are both not able to work. When you can’ t get unemploy ment insurance and you can't get a job there aren't very many alternatives le fl.” Nam e A d d re s s C'ty Keill Cunningham 8tudent __________ _ .................... .............................................................. ______ State____________Zip______ / In Salem a bill is awaiting passage "or failure that would decide whelher two-parent families could receive public assistance. The Street Beat learn asked, "Should the Department o f Hum an Resources provide assis tance for two-parent families where bolh parties are unemployed?” ■< \ '^1 Roale Ruffin Housewife "T hey should give money io both mom and dad. I f they are not working, where else will they get money from ?" Leyne Bernes Student " I think (hey should. I don't think families ought to be split up. Children from broken homes are disadvantaged in terms o f future employment and educa- 11902: X. Receive your Observer by mail— Subscribe today. Only $15°° per year Mail to Portland Observer Box 3137 Portland Oregon 97208 1 1 end tkxne.de Pcweand Oregon «Z?3? Grenadan leader visits States fContinued fro m page 1 col. 4) 1 A d*«» NAACP discusses MHRC cuts The Portland Branch o f the N a tional Association for the Advance ment o f Colored People will meet at the M ount Sinai Comm unity Baptist Church at N .E . Sixth and Prescott Street at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, June 19. The program will feature a report on the plight o f the Metropolitan Human Relations Commission. Those speaking on M H R C will be Linda Roberts, Director; Armando LaGuardia, Chairman; and Fred M ilto n , Chairman o f the Committee for the Restoration o f the M etro politan Hum an Relations Commis sion. arwl »Aar TlwX lAe». I a " I think the State should. I f I one o f the parents is unem ployed or they can't make ends meet, they shouldn’t cut them o ff. Especially, if there are chil dren.” Rhonda Baker Unemployed "There are a lot of people out there who are married and (hey can't get a job. It's hard right now. I'm going through that same trip. There are people out here with the best education in the world who can't find a job. I think they owe it to the people ."
