I'm gathering info for a feature article in New Mobility we're tentatively calling, "Hey, Mr. President!" Right now, my idea is two-fold; first, I want to better understand how the president's priorities are going to affect our community. And second, I want to find out how the prez stands on issues we think are important.

If our nation wasn't in such a time of crisis, those two points would be flip-flopped. But the reality is everything he does for a good while is going to be geared toward getting us out of this cascading fiscal mess.

It's ugly out there.

The Obama plan is underway, however. It's easy to see how the stim package — euphemistically referred to as the "American Recovery and Investment Act" — affects us. Less than a month ago many states had two budgets prepared. One was an "armegeddon" budget that would have bled every state-funded program dry. Another was the "stimulus" budget that had "shovel-ready" projects lined up, and also, incidentally, saved Medicaid again ... at least for now.

I'm going to look and see what else is in it for us.

The other fast-moving car on the Obama train is health care reform. Who knows what that'll actually mean for us. Some think it means better health care for everyone, others think it'll be more healthcare for nondisabled people and less for us, ala misguided social utilitarianism.

And, finally, Obama just recently overturned the ban on stemcell research. Exciting!

Those are the issues Obama's working on that directly affect us. But what about issues that affect us that he's not been able to get around to yet (I mean, he's had a month. Come on, slacker!).

Not counting the above, what disability issues do you think the prez ought to focus on? Job creation? ADA enforcement? Longterm care? Affordable, accessible integrated housing?

This is where I'd like some input, either as a comment here or as an e-mail to me at Josie@newmobility.com

Let me know.

i would like to see decriminalization widespread of medical marijuana.

Which group do you fall into? "healthcare for nondisabled people and less for us" Or do you flip flop depending which one will benefit you more?

I'd like to know why there has been a media blackout on single-payer healthcare? http://www.healthcare-now.org/2009/03/media-blackout-on-single-payer-healthcare/ Only a single-payer approach will end the inhumanity of our failed healthcare insurance system, where profits are more important than patients' health. Only a single-payer approach will end the current disgraceful practice of insurance companies refusing to pay for medical treatment, denying claims, and engaging in rampant price gouging that discourages patients from going to the doctor and has resulted in 50 million Americans without healthcare. The solution? The United States National Health Insurance Act, H.R. 676. You can read about it here: http://www.healthcare-now.org/hr-676/ Tell Senator Baucus to put Single-Payer Reform on the table: http://www.change.org/ideas/294/view_action/sen_baucus_we_need_accurate_numbers_not_creative_figuring HEALTHCARE SHOULD BE A RIGHT, NOT A BUSINESS.