More reversals. Remarkable how politicos never get matters right the first time! ism -----Original Message----- From: Majordomo List Server [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stephanie Thomas Sent: Friday, March 12, 1999 10:38 AM To: micasa-list Subject: FW: Seattle Times story/Olmstead -----Original Message----- From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, March 11, 1999 5:04 PM To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask] Subject: Seattle Times story/Olmstead Copyright © 1998 The Seattle Times Company Local News : Wednesday, March 10, 1999 State pulls out of suit challenging disability law by Dionne Searcey Seattle Times Olympia bureau OLYMPIA - Bowing to pressure from the disabled community, state Attorney General Christine Gregoire has withdrawn Washington's support for a lawsuit, now before the U.S. Supreme Court, that advocates for the disabled fear might undermine the federal law intended to protect them from discrimination. Gregoire sent a letter to advocates yesterday announcing the reversal. Gov. Gary Locke also supports the shift. Gregoire's office last month filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the state of Georgia's challenge to the Americans With Disabilities Act. Georgia contends the act usurps a state's authority to decide how to distribute already limited resources to pay for the needs of disabled people. "Our signature on this (brief) was not intended to convey a message that the state is changing its direction toward providing broader choices and eliminating barriers for persons with disabilities," Gregoire said in the letter. Disabled community members and representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union barraged state offices with letters and phone calls, and then met with Gregoire and Locke to encourage the reversal. "We came to understand the symbolic importance many disabled people have on this case," said Narda Pierce, solicitor general for Gregoire's office. Pierce had authorized the friend-of-the-court brief and worked closely with the state's Department of Social and Health Services in determining that Washington should lend its support. The state supported only a section of Georgia's case that challenges federal regulations the state considers unfunded federal mandates. Pierce had said her concern was that federal regulations are "taking the policy choices away from state legislators on how to serve the disabled community as a whole." Advocates for the disabled said they were excited about the state's reversal. "I understand the legal reasons for the brief," said state Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, who uses crutches and lobbied heavily for the state to remove its name from the brief. "But when it comes to civil rights of any group of people, I think that's where there are more important reasons to consider." NATIONAL ADAPT MAILING LIST - Adapt MiCASA List of Adapt Organizers.