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It took six months for the Bush for President campaign to deliver. But finally, it happened. On June 15 in Portland, Me., Republican Governor George W. Bush of Texas sat down with me in the offices of Alpha One, a local assistive technology provider, to detail his positions on disability issues. Before the interview, Bush unveiled his "New Freedom Initiative" -- a set of policy proposals that he promised to implement if he is elected President in November.
Here's the surprising part: His initiatives for Americans with disabilities look positively Democratic in their sweep and scope. Bush would provide an additional $880 million over the next five years to fund programs that would provide special education for children with disabilities, computer training for disabled workers, and research-and-development funds for bringing new assistive technology products to market. His proposals go far beyond what Bush's opponent, Vice-President Al Gore, has put forward (see BW Online, 1/5/00, "Q&A with Al Gore: Using Technology to Connect the Disabled").
Frankly, I was taken back. Bush and his campaign clearly did a lot of homework in developing these proposals. And in person, Bush was charismatic, down to earth, well-briefed, and determined to put a positive spin on his "compassionate conservatism" philosophy (see accompanying Q&A: "Bush: 'The ADA Is a Good Law'"). He seemed to take relish in breaking ranks with many of his fellow Republicans on everything from enforcing the American with Disabilities Act ("Let me lay out a principle: The ADA must stand") to increased funding for federal special-education programs.
While the national press traveling with Bush seemed perplexed by his detailed prescriptions, my impression was this is one more way for Bush to delineate a "New Republican" message in the same way that Bill Clinton wrote the "New Democrat" blueprint eight years ago. After months of avoiding any discussion of disability issues, Bush was playing offense in the face of hostility from many disablity-rights groups. He was determined to turn a lemon into lemonade.
"In the New Economy, America must draw on the talents and creativity of every American, particularly disabled Americans who have access to assistive technology," Bush said. His starting point: Challenging people with disabilities to "use more of their skills and make more of their choices." Independence and choice are buzzwords for conservatives, but Bush used these themes as starting points for laying out policy prescriptions that are downright, well, Clintonesque.
For example, he would increase access to technology for disabled Americans by tripling the budget for 51 Rehabilitative Engineering Research Centers run by the Education Dept. These centers develop new assistive-technology products for the disabled. He would also increase tenfold (from $4 million to $40 million) the funding for low-interest educational loan programs for individuals and companies to purchase assistive technology. Then he would create a new pool of $33 million annually to fund R&D.
Bush's programs would help the disabled buy the assistive technology they need
Laudable goals all. These rehabilitation centers -- a favorite of many disability groups -- also train disabled workers for the high-tech jobs demanded by the New Economy. And training, either in the public or private sectors, is hard to come by these days. Two persistent factors explain why most people with disabilities still don't have jobs, even with the raging economy: Employers resist buying assistive-technology products that would empower disabled workers to perform in the workplace, and most people with disabilities can't afford to buy these products.
Not only would Bush provide more money to the Education Dept. -- an agency many Republicans want to abolish -- but he would also fund low-interest loan programs to help disabled people overcome these barriers. That's pretty bold.
Bush declared that as President he would also increase funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, although he didn't say by how much. Schools are reluctant to implement IDEA because they say they can't afford it. Additional money for IDEA is an excellent idea -- provided the funds are targeted by need. As soon as possible, Bush should tell the country how much he would increase the spending. And since spending for special education is a low priority for states, the Education Dept. should administer this program.
Here's a stunner: Bush said he would invest $5 billion over five years to establish a federal Reading First program, targeted at increasing the individual attention given to students to help them learn to read. Early identification of disabilities enhances disabled students' educational and social opportunities and allows them to compete with able-bodied children at the earliest educational stages. Again, a good idea.
JUST A START.
Bush said he'll provide an additional $20 million to states to provide low-interest loans to help individuals with disabilities purchase computers and other equipment that would enable them to telecommute to their jobs. This is a start, but just a start -- $100 million needs to be put aside for this program to be successful. Just marketing the program will cost $10 million.
If you haven't noticed yet, the pattern in all these Bush prescriptions is more money for many programs -- but in small increments. That approach is right out of the Presidential handbook of William Jefferson Clinton, who has used this tactic quite effectively in every one of his State of the Union addresses.
On the tax front, Bush proposes making a company's contribution of a computer and Internet access for home usage by disabled people a tax-free benefit. Since many disabled folks find it easier to work from home, this could be a plus. And he would amend the Housing & Urban Development Dept.'s Section 8 voucher program to allow recipients to put up to a year's worth of vouchers toward the down payment on a home. Since many people with disabilities can afford to live only in Section 8 housing and have a difficult time buying homes, this is an excellent way to help them acquire home and build equity for themselves.
Money to make houses of worship acccessible could be spent elsewhere
Bush also proposes $50 million in matching funds over the next five years to increase accessibility to churches, synagogues, mosques, and civic organizations currently exempt from providing access to public buildings under title III of the ADA. I would drop this idea. Even though the Bush people see these funds as comporting with the Supreme Court's test for constitutional neutrality, Congress won't touch the issues of separation of church and state here. Let well-heeled religious organizations deal with making houses of worship accessible. That $50 million over five years would be better spent training disabled workers for jobs.
Bush says he would create a national commission to recommend reforms of the mental-health delivery system. With more than 13 federal agencies overseeing mental-health policies, funding, law enforcement, and programs, this could lead to new insights and better coordination. But let's see what recommendations the panel comes up with first.
EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
Here's another page ripped out of the Clinton handbook: Bush promises to issue a host of Executive Orders that would boost integration of the disabled into community-based settings. He would also issue Executive Orders for swifter implementation of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act. These new laws give Americans with disabilities more power to choose their own support services and maintain their health benefits when they return to work.
The states need a nudge to buy into these programs. Executive Orders from the White House could be what they're waiting for. Clinton has been a master at issuing Executive Orders to get things done without having to get permission from Congress.
Bush says he'll help small businesses comply with the ADA by providing the government's 10 technical-assistance areas with an additional $5 million annually. Nice thought, but not much money there. And the Texas governor said he would work with Congress to make the 120,000 voting places in the U.S. accessible to people with disabilities. As it stands now, less than one in five voting places are accessible. To achieve this goal, local governments will need money for architectural renovations.
Where will the money come from? Bush doesn't say, but the federal government will surely have to pony up matching funds as an incentive to states and local municipalities. They're not going to remodel on their own nickel.
COMMITMENT.
All in all, quite a detailed plan, and hardly something that the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill would ever deign to pursue if Bush weren't pushing it as a Presidential candidate. During our interview, Bush, whose father signed the ADA into law 10 years ago next month, repeatedly stressed his commitment to supporting the ADA.
And this really shocked me: He opposes the Foley Amendment to the ADA. Sponsored by Representative Mark Foley (R-Fla.), that measure would transfer responsibility for enforcing the ADA to the states -- a move that many disabled-rights groups fear would weaken the landmark law. It would also require plaintiffs to give small businesses notice before suits are brought, so that mom-and-pop operations first have a chance to make their shops and workplaces accessible before they are forced to go to court.
The Foley Amendment has its strongest support among Republicans and small business. No less than actor Clint Eastwood has been a visible and outspoken proponent of the Foley Amendment.
But hey, the whole interview left me stunned. After spending more than a half-hour with Governor Bush, he convinced me that he'll support the ADA. What's more, he has a real grasp of issues facing people with disabilities and the economic benefits of assistive technology in the New Economy.
Bush plainly realizes there are 54 million disabled people in this country -- many of them voters. And he's making a strong play for their votes. It'll be interesting to see how Vice-President Al Gore -- a bona fide champion of rights for the disabled -- responds.
What do you think about Governor Bush's positions? Let us know at BW Online's Assistive Tech Forum. Or drop John a line at JMMAW@aol.com
EDITED BY DOUGLAS HARBRECHT
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