5/12/1998

Tim Wheat
(901) 726-6404

Sundquist Epitomizes Flaws in "States' Rights"

(MEMPHIS)500 members of ADAPT had their belief in states' rights tested by Governor Don Sundquist's refusal to support Tennesseans with disabilities, young and old. Despite strong support for ADAPT from Memphis Mayor W. W. Herenton and Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout, Sundquist refused to work for home and community based services that could keep Tennessee citizens out of nursing homes and institutions.

"Governors like Sundquist who choose to ignore the cost effectiveness and rightness of home and community based services, and instead continue to sentence their citizens to death in nursing homes, leave us with only one solution - federal legislation that guarantees choice for all Americans. We'll just have to go to another level," concluded Michael Auberger, national ADAPT organizer.

ADAPT's legislation, H. R. 2020, also known as the Medicaid Community Attendant Services Act of 1997 or MiCASA (Spanish for My House), would set minimum standards for all the states. H. R. 2020 is co-sponsored by Minority Leader Richard Gephardt and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. It currently has 62 additional co-sponsors, split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, and allows citizens to choose home and community based services over nursing homes. Despite its broad bipartisan support, the Clinton Administration has yet to endorse H. R. 2020. Tennessee Native Son, Vice President Al Gore, was invited to address the disability community in Memphis, but refused to meet with ADAPT to discuss the issues. Gore hails from the nation's First Worst state in investing tax dollars in institutionalizing persons with disabilities, young and old, rather than offering them the choice to live with needed services in their own homes.

"I don't understand how Vice President Gore can sleep at night knowing about all the persons trapped and dying in Tennessee nursing homes. He hasn't lifted a finger to help us. Is he another Sundquist?" asked Dawn Russell of Memphis.

"Another influential Tennessean, Nancy Ann Min DeParle, Administrator of HCFA (Health Care Financing Adminstration) needs to take a strong public position in favor of H. R. 2020. She must help stop the warehousing and deaths of men, women, and children with disabilities in the nation's nursing homes and other institutions." added Bob Liston, an ADAPT organizer from Michigan.