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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA Wisconsin lawmaker who's paralyzed isn't allowed to call into meetings/
MADISON - A state lawmaker who is paralyzed isnt allowed to participate in committee meetings by phone under a legislative rule that he says keeps him from performing his job as well as he should.
Democratic Rep. Jimmy Anderson of Fitchburg said the Assembly rule discriminates against him because he has difficulty getting to some meetings for health reasons. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and other Republicans who control the Legislature have declined to accommodate his request to call into meetings.
Its the first time Ive ever had to ask for simple dignities, right? he said. Its a frustrating thing to have to ask just to be included in the process.
Vos, of Rochester, noted lawmakers have accommodated his needs in other ways, such as by providing him with a computer that has voice recognition software. But Vos said he was unwilling to change the rule that requires representatives to show up at committee meetings in person.
"It just comes down to the fact that I think its disrespectful for someone to be asking questions over a microphone or a speakerphone when individuals are actually taking the time out of their day to come and testify in person," Vos said.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/29/leaders-wont-let-lawmaker-who-uses-wheelchair-phone-into-meetings/1830851001/
a kennedy
(29,646 posts)3catwoman3
(23,971 posts)...legislator is a Democrat?
Vos would probably pick up a fellow Republican in his own car.
onecaliberal
(32,821 posts)Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)madaboutharry
(40,206 posts)I loathe assholes like him.
Rep. Jimmy Anderson is a brave young man.
dflprincess
(28,075 posts)Anderson is asking for nothing more than that & Voss is breaking the law. Any other employer who refused to do this would be opening itself up to lawsuits and fines.
dawg day
(7,947 posts)Reasonable accommodations-- I think speakerphone and video conferences count as that.