City Paper
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1997

Sixty-four people, most of them in Wheelchairs, were arrested yesterday afternoon after chaining themselves to the White House fence during a demonstration to promote legislation for the disabled, U.S. Park Police said.

The protesters -- members of Americans Disabled for Attendant Programs Today -- were arrested about 3:20 p.m. and were charged with demonstrating without a permit, Sgt. Michael Russo said.

They were booked on the scene and released. The charge carries a maximum penalty of $500 and six months in jail.

The nationwide group is pushing for a bill, Medicaid Community Attendant Service Act which would allow eligible disabled people to hire attendants to provide care at home or in a setting such as a school, workplace or church.

The legislation was introduced in June by House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).

About 350 disabled people staged a sit-in Monday at the Rayburn House Office Building, demanding that a hearing date be set for the bill. After 3 1/2 hours, the chief of staff for Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-Fla.) agreed to arrange a hearing to take testimony by the end of March. Bilirakis is the chairman of the House Commerce subcommittee on health and environment.