"SOONER" OR LATER: OKLAHOMA AND AUTISM

By Wayne Rohde

Just to let all of you know what the hell is going on in the Sooner
State of Oklahoma. There has been a lot of national press regarding
the proceedings in our House of Representatives.

For the last 2 years, we have known that the way to get any insurance mandate bill passed in Oklahoma, we must get the bill thru the House Economic Development Committee and Chairman Ron Peterson.

There have been no mandates passed in this state since 1999. We are
one of the lowest mandated states in the nation, and we have one of
the poorest health conditions of our citizens.

We wanted to respect the legislative process, asking our parents and
family members to be polite, always shaking hands of our elected
officials and honoring their elected offices. Our strategy has been
to get the faces of children for the bill (Nick's Law with references
to so many kids) and having the most polite and sincere parents at
the capitol.

The media picked up on this and began to run with it.  We knew we had
several options to get language passed into law, but wanted to go the
committee route first.

We passed the OK Senate with huge bipartisan support of all of our
bills (Nick's Law, vaccine bill, Autism Teacher Training, and our
BCBA therapist bill).

But the House is where things get nasty and often mutilated. And our
bills will be subject to this. It is so partisan in the House.

Chairman Peterson's actions in his committee on Wednesday infuriated
members of both parties. The Vice Chair told me face to face 2 days
prior to the hearing that he will vote for the bill. Then he votes
against us in committee. He will not see next year's session as a
member.

Since the beginning of the 2008 legislative session no one at the
capitol gave us a chance to get an insurance mandate passed thru the
Senate.  We did!!  39-7, 47-1, and 48-0.  Then no one at the capitol
gave us a chance to get an insurance mandate passed out of House
Insurance Committee. There has been no mandates passed since 1999.
R=10 and D=7.

With great support and effort from our parents, the members were
lobbyied very hard. We brought down the email server at the House. The
phone system was clogged up for several days. No robot calling or mass
emails, just a lot of parents writing and spilling their guts out.

For the last few months, these parents have walked the halls, sent
letters, had friends and other business associates call. It was truly
remarkable.

WE HAD THE VOTES TO WIN A STRAIGHT UP VOTE in the committee on
Wednesday and damn it, the chairman stole it away from these parents.
All the parents did was stand up in the meeting for nearly 2 hours,
did not say a word, and just held 8x10 pics of their kids. We had many
TV crews there. They were there for only 1 thing, to hear Nick's Law.

Most of the committee members did not know that TV crews were there
prior to arrival.  When the bill was announced to be heard, it was
unbelievable what happened. All the parents, nearly 75 in the
committee hearing stood up quietly, raised the pictures of their
children, the TV cameras were turned on, and Chairman Peterson was
shaking. He could barely gavel to announce the reading of the upcoming
bill. His voice was cracking. The Speaker pro tem came into the room
to make sure that the R's would follow the orchestrated effort. As
soon as the bill was read, the Vice Chair moved to pass the bill. This
stopped any attempt for the members to ask questions about the bill or
add amendments.  There was an agreement between the House author of SB
1059 and several members of the committee to allow Nick's Law as an
amendment.

No public debate, no comments, nothing. A pure violation of House
rules. Very cowardly manuevering was not done.  Then the Chair sneaks
out of the room to his office and then LOCKS the door to the outer
chamber of his office. Another clear violation of House rules. The
Chair releases a statement calling all the mothers and fathers a mob.
It is my opinion that the Chair should take a good look around his
office and then pack his bags.

Many people from both sides of the aisle clearly were upset about the
proceeding. Several have referred the actions as the worst in 20
years. Folks, we now have the upper hand. The media has clearly
turned against the House Leadership and that will cost them dearly in
November. Many House Republicans are very mad about the proceedings
and have reached out to tell us.  They are very upset with their
leadership because of this action.

On Thursday, the House Democrats walked out of the session in protest
of the actions of the Chairman.  It is now reached a boiling point
about the suppression of the people's voice.  The general public is
now catching on what has been happening.  Please check out the links
below to the newspaper articles.

Now, Nick's Law is still alive. We are forced to go to the floor of
the House and Senate and add the language as a floor amendment. We are
good with this. We will not be denied. It is a huge cult
following at the capitol. The parents are rock stars. Thanks to the
several hundred parents who have been at the capitol this year.

Here are several articles from Oklahoma media from just last week.  You'll have to register for the NewsOK.com article. It just takes a moment.

http://newsok.com/article/keyword/3228375/

http://newsok.com/article/keyword/3227950/

http://newsok.com/article/keyword/3227458/

http://www.edmondsun.com/archivesearch/local_story_100212617.html

http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=8147643

http://www.newsok.com/article/3228074

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080410_1__OKLAH86254

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080410_238_A1_hBack27460

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080409_12_OKLAH84460

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080409_12_OKLAH26642

http://www.news9.com/Global/story.asp?s=8144293

Wayne Rohde Lives in Edmond, OK with wife Robyne and twin sons Austin and Nicholas (Nick’s Law).  Nicholas has been diagnosed with autism.

Comments

[Nick's Law?]

"There are rumors that Nick's Law has been more-or-less killed. Is this true?"

Unbelievable, who would have thought the OKies would have such gumption. Will Rogers will be proud of them. Here's one of his quotes:

"Live your life so that whenever you lose, you're ahead."

[Terri Lewis]

Robyne and Wayne,

There are rumors that Nick's Law has been more-or-less killed. Is this true? Is there anything we can do? I have a few ideas, but thought you might have more information. Meanwhile, I'll be doing my homework on this.

Terri Lewis

[Robyne Rohde]

Kerbob1- Let me make this very clear. NICK'S LAW IS NOT AN AUTISM SPEAKS BILL. It is NOT a template law. Wayne spent the good part of a year investigating the autism laws that passed and didn't pass in other states. When Nick's Law passes it will be the most comprehensive law to date. We are on the downhill swing in this battle, and without Wayne's undying efforts to educate the legislature about autism and ability to bring so many parents together for a common goal in this often backward state, has been nothing less than amazing. Of course, I may be a bit biased.....Robyne Rohde

[Gatogorra]

I never wanted for any of us to be in this boat, but knowing that people like the Rohdes and the other parents at the OK hearing are in this boat with us all makes the ride much more bearable. All power to you.

[Monica]

Wayne, kudos to you for grabbing the bull by the horns. We are up against the same issue in Florida, and I have been on the edge of my seat watching the movement of SB 2654, which would cover therapy here.

http://www.flsenate.gov/session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&BillNum=2654

Reading your story has recharged my fingers, I must start emailing and dialing again this week!

[Kerbob1]

What it the number of the bill? Does it include the inhuman "prenatal screening" language? You understand many are actually concerned about these template bills because once enough so called "biomarkers" are discovered this will lead to abortions, right? That's not exactly the way to end the epidemic of Autism, is it?

In some states Autism Speaks is also going the experimental drugs angle. Part of the Fristmas present a few years back. A nex-gen SSRI in every ASD tummy. Yours may be different, but most of these Autism Speaks bills are also age discriminatory provisions which clearly benefit the insurance industry.

If the read the bills they have landmines like "certain" or "certain children". This, of course, is a reservation to deny coverages. They also claim to not limit, but further along they do just that.

Don't take any wooden nickels.

[Kelli Ann Davis]

"All the parents, nearly 75 in the committee hearing stood up quietly, raised the pictures of their children, the TV cameras were turned on...."

This made me cry. What a POWERFUL picture to behold. I wish I was there to see it.

Wayne, seriously, as soon as you get this bill passed (and you will) you should go after your AG next! You've got the momentum behind you (press, parents, and state reps) and I could see you pulling it off!!!

The climate has changed dramatically and the time is "ripe" for this to happen.

Once you catch your breath and IF you feel this might be an avenue to pursue, feel free to contact me and we can talk about what's already been done, etc.

Best to you and Nick,

Kelli

[Ginger Taylor]

Wayne, This gives me chills and emboldens me to fight harder. Thank you for working so hard. We will win.

Ginger

[Terri Lewis]

Wayne Rohde,

You are a hero, and you will win. Ron Peterson is a coward, and does not deserve to be called by the title of his office. With the media on your side, you will win. I just registered at NewsOK.com, and got the e-mail to confirm it.

Thank you for reporting on your efforts so we can join in this work. You are so very close. Ron Peterson should be thrown out of office and thrown into jail.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY. We are everywhere and we will not shut up. We will support one another in this struggle until everyone understands that our current vaccination program is DESTROYING MORE LIVES THAN IT SAVES. HOW DARE THEY TO THEN TURN THEIR BACKS ON OUR CHILDREN, whom they have thrown into the pit?

Please join us.

Terri Lewis

[Jill]

You guys ARE amazing rock stars!! Keep going, we're rooting for you.

[David Taylor]

Wayne--

Got chills reading this. You and these OK parents are heroes and inspirations. I drooled over the image of the Rethuglican Chairthing scurrying to his office like a cockroach caught in the light. And he was.