July 29, 2008
WASHINGTON— Presidential candidate John McCain (R-Arizona) DOES NOT support the Community Choice Act (CCA), legislation allowing people with disabilities to choose home-based or community care with in-home services by increasing the percentage of Medicaid that goes toward in-home care. Past Chair of the National Council on Disability (NDC; http://www.ncd.gov/) Marca Bristo says McCain has a long history of opposing the CCA. However, McCain may be preparing to “flip-flop” on the issue. Barack Obama is a co-sponsor of the Act (http://obama.senate.gov/press/080115-statement_of_se_14/).
COMMENT
Bristo says the disability community can’t afford more failed policies or eight more years of the status quo, and so do we. Bob Kafka, President of the American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT; http://www.adapt.org/) says McCain should be aware of the influence the disability community has in the up-coming election. Should we trust McCain if he changes his stand on the CCA? Will he simply flip back again if he wins the election? Most importantly, can people with disabilities afford to take the chance? McCain supports the VA and veterans with disabilities, but does not offer the same support for other people with disabilities. His personal experiences may be a factor but a President should not run a country based on personal interests alone—we have seen enough of that already.
SOURCES
· http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/audio-conference-national-disability-rights-leaders-dubious-john-mccains/
· http://talkradionews.com/2008/07/disabled-community-deserves-better/
RELATED
Track the Community Choice Act:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-799
Downloadable audio of McCain’s anti-CCA comments:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/07/09/john-mccain-blows-off-supporting-the-community-choice-act-at-town-hall-meeting/
Audio and video of the Bristo & Kafka conference call regarding CCA/McCain:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/audio-conference-national-disability-rights-leaders-dubious-john-mccains/
Video of McCain speaking about the Community Choice Act:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0lBN14rTeQ
Background on the Act from the National Council on Independent Living:
http://www.ncil.org/news/communitychoiceact.html
CCA talking points from ADAPT:http://www.adapt.org/casa/talkingpts.html
COMMENT
Bristo says the disability community can’t afford more failed policies or eight more years of the status quo, and so do we. Bob Kafka, President of the American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT; http://www.adapt.org/) says McCain should be aware of the influence the disability community has in the up-coming election. Should we trust McCain if he changes his stand on the CCA? Will he simply flip back again if he wins the election? Most importantly, can people with disabilities afford to take the chance? McCain supports the VA and veterans with disabilities, but does not offer the same support for other people with disabilities. His personal experiences may be a factor but a President should not run a country based on personal interests alone—we have seen enough of that already.
SOURCES
· http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/audio-conference-national-disability-rights-leaders-dubious-john-mccains/
· http://talkradionews.com/2008/07/disabled-community-deserves-better/
RELATED
Track the Community Choice Act:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-799
Downloadable audio of McCain’s anti-CCA comments:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/07/09/john-mccain-blows-off-supporting-the-community-choice-act-at-town-hall-meeting/
Audio and video of the Bristo & Kafka conference call regarding CCA/McCain:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/audio-conference-national-disability-rights-leaders-dubious-john-mccains/
Video of McCain speaking about the Community Choice Act:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0lBN14rTeQ
Background on the Act from the National Council on Independent Living:
http://www.ncil.org/news/communitychoiceact.html
CCA talking points from ADAPT:http://www.adapt.org/casa/talkingpts.html
