SAN JOSE) – The Governor´s budget cuts to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) would devastate thousands of families and hurt the economy by reducing hours and jobs for many health care workers employed by the valuable safety net program, Democratic legislators said today.
Joining senior and disabled citizens and health care workers at Vivente 1 Apartments in San Jose, five state Democratic legislators said the Governor´s decision to turn his back on the needy is poor policy and bad economics.
The Governor´s budget plan would eliminate $266 million from the IHSS program, which provides care to low-income, disabled and aged Californians in their homes and allows them to avoid more expensive out-of-home care. The program serves 396,000 Californians.
"It simply makes no sense to cut a program that lets people live at home with dignity and independence," said Senator Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose), and chair of Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services. "Do the math: Last time I checked, it was far more expensive to live in a nursing home than at home with the aid of a home care worker who makes a living wage."
"The Governor´s plan to drastically cut IHSS is unacceptable because it is inhumane and immoral," said Assembly Member Jim Beall, Jr. (D-San Jose). "Why is he asking low-income people with severe disabilities who need IHSS´s help to bring them the necessities of life – food and medicine – to bear the burden of balancing the budget without first demanding any sacrifices by the rich? The Governor´s actions display a lack of empathy. Let´s get realistic and work together for a better solution.´´
The Governor´s budget plan would slash funding for a whole range of health care services, from hospitals to medical coverage for the poor to programs that give thousands of California´s senior and disabled citizens the help they need to continue living independently.
Under the Governor´s plan, the state would reduce the wages it reimburses for IHSS workers, lower the hours of IHSS provided and significantly reduce services for 83,000 recipients. The cutbacks would force many families to turn to more expensive assistance and swell the ranks of unemployed by eliminating IHSS positions.
Democrats believe the state must maintain its core services to ensure Californians have a strong economy and a bright future. The Governor´s plan to lay off thousands of school teachers, health care workers and other vital civil servants would damage California´s economy at the worst possible time.
Democrats have pledged to develop an honest budget that improves the state´s finances over the long term. The Governor´s accounting gimmicks and unwise cuts not only fail to solve the state´s fiscal problems but undermine California´s economy by dramatically increasing job losses.
Joining senior and disabled citizens and health care workers at Vivente 1 Apartments in San Jose, five state Democratic legislators said the Governor´s decision to turn his back on the needy is poor policy and bad economics.
The Governor´s budget plan would eliminate $266 million from the IHSS program, which provides care to low-income, disabled and aged Californians in their homes and allows them to avoid more expensive out-of-home care. The program serves 396,000 Californians.
"It simply makes no sense to cut a program that lets people live at home with dignity and independence," said Senator Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose), and chair of Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services. "Do the math: Last time I checked, it was far more expensive to live in a nursing home than at home with the aid of a home care worker who makes a living wage."
"The Governor´s plan to drastically cut IHSS is unacceptable because it is inhumane and immoral," said Assembly Member Jim Beall, Jr. (D-San Jose). "Why is he asking low-income people with severe disabilities who need IHSS´s help to bring them the necessities of life – food and medicine – to bear the burden of balancing the budget without first demanding any sacrifices by the rich? The Governor´s actions display a lack of empathy. Let´s get realistic and work together for a better solution.´´
The Governor´s budget plan would slash funding for a whole range of health care services, from hospitals to medical coverage for the poor to programs that give thousands of California´s senior and disabled citizens the help they need to continue living independently.
Under the Governor´s plan, the state would reduce the wages it reimburses for IHSS workers, lower the hours of IHSS provided and significantly reduce services for 83,000 recipients. The cutbacks would force many families to turn to more expensive assistance and swell the ranks of unemployed by eliminating IHSS positions.
Democrats believe the state must maintain its core services to ensure Californians have a strong economy and a bright future. The Governor´s plan to lay off thousands of school teachers, health care workers and other vital civil servants would damage California´s economy at the worst possible time.
Democrats have pledged to develop an honest budget that improves the state´s finances over the long term. The Governor´s accounting gimmicks and unwise cuts not only fail to solve the state´s fiscal problems but undermine California´s economy by dramatically increasing job losses.
