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31 Mar 2011 15:56

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Politics: Florida Gov slashes disabilities services, then heads to Special Olympics ceremony

  • afternoon Florida Gov. Rick Scott is expected to announce a 15% pay cut for workers who aid developmentally-disabled Floridians.
  • eveningAs a sort of consolation prize to those whose services will be cut, Scott will then attend a photo-op for the Special Olympics. source
  • » Why the 15% cut? Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities is facing a $170 million deficit, and Scott claims these cuts are essential to preserving the agency. Fair enough. Alternatively, he could lower his proposed $1.5 billion corporate tax cut to, say, $1.4 billion, and re-route that money to the APD. Just a suggestion. [hat tip: ThinkProgress]
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Aug 2009 10:16

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U.S.: Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a tireless campaigner for the mentally disabled

Smithsonian portrait of Eunice Kennedy Shriver
  • She died early Tuesday at 88. Beyond being known as a member of the Kennedy family, Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968 just weeks after her brother Robert’s assassination. It was a profound idea – during an era where physical activity was unheard of for the mentally disabled, she started an event to encourage it. She learned about it from her sister Rosemary, who grew up in Kennedy household during an era where many with mental disabilities were institutionalized. Her victories may not have been as loud as those of her famous brothers, but in their own way they were just as profound. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

07 Aug 2009 16:15

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U.S.: A Kennedy and Shriver family matriarch is on her deathbed

  • She’s Ted’s sister. She’s Ahnold’s mother-in-law. 88-year-old Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics and a woman who’s probably had a more interesting and indirectly influential life that the rest of us, is currently in critical but stable condition in a Cape Cod, Mass. hospital. Her entire family is at her side, including California’s first family (which includes her daughter Maria). More details as we get them. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Mar 2009 21:18

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Offbeat, U.S.: A Special Olympian just dared Obama. It’s on now!

  • He bowled a 129. I bowl a 300. I could beat that score easily.
  • Kolan McConiughey • One of the top Special Olympian bowlers in the world. Dude’s bowled five perfect games since 2005, which totally puts Obama (and most of the rest of us) to shame. Obama’s first major verbal slip-up of his presidency doesn’t even make sense when talking about this dude. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

20 Mar 2009 01:13

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Culture, U.S.: Obama’s Leno appearance may have blown up in his face

  • The president made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics. He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world.
  • White House spokesman Bill Burton • Regarding an offhand remark Obama made on “The Tonight Show” comparing his bowling abilities to a Special Olympics athlete. *forehead slap* Nice damage control, Bill. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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