“Protecting Seniors and Persons with Disabilities - An Examination of Court - Appointed Guardians”
Senate Judiciary Committee
Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts
DATE: September 22, 2011
TIME: 02:30 PM
ROOM: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226
NOTICE OF SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing of the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts entitled “Protecting Seniors and Persons with Disabilities – An Examination of Court - Appointed Guardians” for Thursday, September 22, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Chairman Klobuchar to preside.
Witness List:
Kay Brown
Director, Education Workforce and Income Security
U.S. Government Accountability Office
Washington, DC
Naomi Karp
Strategic Policy Advisor
AARP Public Policy Institute
Washington, DC
Robert Baldwin
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
National Center for State Courts
Williamsburg, VA
Michelle Hollister
Managing Partner
Solkoff Legal, P.A.
Delray Beach, FL
Source:
Hearings and Meetings
Note: This hearing will be webcast - click the Source link to view!
16 comments:
Isn't this interesting? Herb Kohl sits on this committee and yet the Special Senate Aging Committee hasn't had a hearing.
Let's see....who is scheduled to testify for victims?
Once again, it's noone. It's outrageous that NASGA is not on the list.
Guardianship entities have held this party long enough with selected invitations which only echo each other's veiled attempt to even look like they're working for reform.
No one speaking for victims?
When will they ever learn?
I just called Senator Schumer's office in new York and asked if anyone from their office will be attending. The woman who answered the phone told me that they did not receive an invite? When I asked if I could fax my story to the senator she gave me the fax number. I wonder if he will read it?
Why are they having this hearing anyway if none of the victims can speak? What good does it do?
Who's ordering the pizza and beer to be delivered after the hearing?
In 10 years these hearings have accomplished nothing other than giving Senator Herb Kohl a chance to suggest "certification and training" as a remedy.
Pretty poor response from the Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Againg.
Vulnerable and helpless people are suffering, Senator Kohl, and you're having meetings instead of focusing on reform.
Call NASGA if you are so far removed from the situation to know how to handle it. Or better still, read NASGA's Open Letters to Congress. You were mailed all three of them.
Two years ago I spoke with the political elite about testifying. I have repeatedly voice my interest and need is participating, not just because my Mother, Mary G. Sykes is a victim of the courts, but because too may of our loved ones are suffering and exploited: I've have been blessed in the past with opportunities to testify before the political elite, including at sub-committee hearings, and made an ounce of difference. (Health Care Reform). When people who are personally affected by an issue testify, change always comes, perhaps slowly, but sooner than later. However, in my humble opinion, it is more important than ever, today, that the victims, who the political elite know many of us (we were in Washington TWICE this year)are present and testify: if the world listened to Mr. Rooney, imagine how the people -- you and I-- our stories too would be heard! The problem is, I'm certain, that if we are allowed to testify, if NASGA was allowed to testify, then they would have to truly take notice and do something about the Court sanctioned abuse. Carolyn Toerpe, a named respondent to a petition for an order of protection was appointed Guardian of my mother because she and TWO Guardian Ad Litems agreed to the isolation, medical and emotional neglect, financial exploitation, et al! My Mother, like almost all of the other victims, were set up: it's business as usual and this business is good business, even for the political elite. If our loved ones were all celebrities, like Mickey Rooney, we'd be invited: however, we're just ordinary people and WE DON'T COUNT! I say we all start making phone calls today, asking to have our voices heard, perhaps nominate NASGA, but demand to have out voices heard. I wish I was in DC because I would be one of the loudest voices protesting and carrying my sign, "HELP BRING MY MOTHER MARY G. SYKES HOME". God bless us all. We will prevail! We must prevail! We must stand united. I don't have the answers, and maybe I'm just full of myself, too, but each one of us has a compelling story to be told and each one of us needs to be heard: Thanks NASGA for all your support and allowing our voices to be heard -- we just need to be more noisy....the squeaky wheel always gets the grease....
Wrong, Rachael! Herb Kohl's committee has held hearings, but all they do is talk!
Well, he did make a recommendation - "Certification and training.": What a sick joke!
Who's going to train lawyers NOT to steal?
could it be that the judiciary committee wants to get involved because the senate aging committee hasn't?
Herb Kohl is on this committee? Imagine that, he's on his way out isn't he?
His state the state of Wisconsin demands sealed closed case files for all adult guardianship cases could be minor guardianship cases too.
Hey anybody know:
Any wards testifying?
Any former wards testifying?
Any spouses of wards testifying?
Any family or friends of living wards testifying?
Any family or friends of deceased wards testifying?
Was NASGA invited to testify?
If not, why not?
I pray this is more than show.
More talk and no action.
IT IS A SHOW! It's all a show and they've casted Mickey Rooney as the Poster Elder for Elder Abuse. Unfortunately, our loved ones are not celebrities; therefore, we, they, don't count. Mickey Rooney truly believes that his advocacy is and will help all of us, but since he testified, NOTHING has happened. The more we file complaints, the less is done. Most of us don't even get a response back. Yes, it's another show and a way to look like the sub-committee is using our tax-dollars wisely.I've been to a few of the proceedings of the Mary Sykes case and walked out with tears in my eyes. Words with the Special Committee on Aging was like talking to a blank wall.
With the same old players, how do we get excited that this hearing might lead to reform?
An Examination of Court - Appointed Guardians
An examination? Without wards in attendance? Without former Wards to speak out? I agree with Sue she's right on what the _______ is this hearing about? Another feel good event? Let's get down to business, down to the truth if not now, then when?
How many Marie Long stories have to surface before we see real reforms. Everything about this guardianship stuff screams of abuse.
Will this be just more of the same or are they actually finally addressing some of the guardian problems?
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