G-R-E-A-T

Bravo PA ADAPTERS.

Kathleen.  Wonderful to know you're still "up 'n at 'em."

ISM

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Majordomo List Server [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Kathleen Kleinmann
> Sent: Friday, January 29, 1999 8:27 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: PA is off Olmstead
>
>
> ADAPT of PA forces the Attorney General to remove the State of
> Pennsylvania from the Olmstead Supreme Court Amicus Brief!
>
> Overwhelming pressure from the forces of ADAPT all over the state of
> Pennsylvania ended today in victory for the people.  Letters, phone calls
> and email to the Attorney General's WEB page resulted in a teleconference
> call with the Attorney General Fisher (Governor hopeful) on Thursday,
> January 28.  On the one hour call, 18 ADAPTERS made the demand that he
> provide us with a copy of a letter that would result in PA being removed
> from any Amicus Brief that would challenge the ADA on the issue of "the
> most integrated setting." The Attorney General listened to the people and
> the severe threat that they faced but refused to make a decision until the
> following week (February 1).
>
> During the call, ADAPT gave him a strict deadline of 10 AM the following
> day, January 29.  The Attorney General missed that deadline.  At 1 PM on
> January 29, FIVE state offices were hit by ADAPT, totalling over 100
> troops statewide.  The cities hit were Harrisburg, Erie, Pittsburgh,
> Philadelphia, and Wilkes-Barre.
>
> The ADAPT crowd of 20 in Pittsburgh found him and cornered him!
>
> As SW PA ADAPT entered the parking lot, the attendant told us that the
> Attorney General had been asking him repeatedly all morning whether or not
> he had seen any folks in wheelchairs.  Obviously, he was worried that we
> just might show up if he had missed the deadline.  We blocked in his van
> with an ADAPT van with a wink from the parking attendant.  We got past a
> security door when the receptionist used the buzzer to let a caller in.
> She was shocked when she saw what she had just done.  TOO LATE!
>
> After a short delay in which we were able to address the local TV news,
> the Attorney General responded to our chants of "I'd rather go to jail
> than die in a nursing home!"  Attorney General Fisher came out to address
> us.  One by one, each of the people said their name and made our demand
> more clear.  Checking his hand scrawled notes, he made a "nice speech"
> which ended in the statement that PA would come off the Olmstead brief.
> The crowd cheered!  We asked him to place his words to us in writing with
> his signature (letter below) and for the official letter taking PA off the
> brief (second letter below).  We were in contact with the ADAPT groups in
> the other cities by cell phone to share the excitement during the wait.
> Within a short time, both letters were delivered to us and each was faxed
> to all the other ADAPT groups in the other cities.  ANOTHER VICTORY TO
> CELEBRATE!
>
> The people UNITED will never be DEFEATED!
>
>
>
> Kathleen Kleinmann
> PA ADAPT
> 69 East Beau Street
> Washington, PA  15301
>
> Re:  L. C. and E. W. v. Olmstead
>
>
> Dear Ms. Kleinman:
>
>      The issues pending before the United States Supreme Court in the
> above captioned case have been brought before me for consideration.  The
> question before me is whether Pennsylvania should join on an amicus brief
> to be filed by the state of Florida.  I have thoroughly considered the
> issues, consulted with Governor Tom Ridge, who has recommended that we not
> join, and I have listened to residents of the Commonwealth who have views
> and opinions on both sides.
>
>      After full consideration as outlined above, I have decided as
> Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, not to join in the
> amicus brief to be filed before the United States Supreme Court in this
> case.
>
>                Very truly yours,
>
>                D. Michael Fisher
>                Attorney General
>
>
> January 29, 1999
>
>
> Stephanie A. Daniel
> Assistant Attorney General
> Attorney General's Office
> The Capitol
> Tallahassee, FL  32399-1050
> Via mail and fax
>
> Re:  Olmstead v. L. C., No. 98-536
>
> Dear Ms. Daniel:
>
>      The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not wish to join the brief on
> the merits which Florida has prepared in the above case.
>
>                Sincerely,
>
>
>                Executive Deputy Attorney General
>                Director, Civil Law Division Litigation
>
> Section
> JGK/hs
>
>
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>