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
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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.
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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 ."