CDCAN Advocacy Without Borders :: One Community

• LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS REGULAR 2010 SESSION JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT AS STATE CONTINUES WITHOUT BUDGET
• Legislature Will Return to State Capitol For Vote On A Budget When An Agreement Is Reached Among Legislative Leaders and Governor – No Agreement Close With No End In Sight to Stalemate

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 09/01/2010  12:29 AM  (Pacific Time)]  -  With the State budget crisis still unresolved with no agreement in sight to close the over $19 billion budget deficit, the State Senate and Assembly’s 2010 regular legislative session abruptly came to an end just after midnight, when the clock ran out on any bills that still needed final action.   California is now 63 days without a State budget.

• 9/6  MONDAY: DALE SORBELLO MEMORIAL CELEBRATION
• 10/23  SATURDAY: PAUL LONGMORE PUBLIC MEMORIAL
• Memorial Service for Ron Brown, Sacramento Disability & Housing Advocate Not Set Yet – But Likely in Late September or October

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 08/31/2010  01:00 AM  (Pacific Time)]  -  Final details are available for memorial services for Dale Sorbello, 60 years old, former chief deputy director of the Department of Developmental Services, who passed away Sunday evening (August 29) , and Professor Paul Longmore, 64 years old, a widely respected disability rights advocate, historian and author, who passed away of natural causes on August 9^th (Monday).

Memorial services for Ron Brown, a longtime disability and housing advocate and past president of the Sacramento Paratransit Board of Directors, who passed away July 23^rd, have not yet been announced – though could be in late September or October to allow family from Ohio to attend.

• STATE SENATE & ASSEMBLY SCHEDULES BUDGET VOTE TUESDAY MORNING THOUGH NO AGREEMENT IN SIGHT ON HOW TO CLOSE OVER $19 BILLION DEFICIT
• State Will Enter Day 62 Without A Budget As Crisis Continues – Budget Delay Impact Spreading With One Day Left In 2010 Regular Legislative Session – Deadline to Pass Any Bill (Other Than Budget) August 31st

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 08/30/2010  10:20  PM  (Pacific Time)]  -  With California now entering its 62^nd day without a State budget, and with no agreement in sight, the State Legislature has scheduled a largely symbolic vote Tuesday morning (August 31) on two widely different budget plans proposed by Legislative Democrats and the other containing the proposals made by Governor in January (as revised in May with some changes in recent weeks).  The State budget year for 2010-2011 began officially on July 1, 2010.

• DALE SORBELLO DIES – SERVED AS CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE DEPT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES
• Sorbello’s Passing Due To Complications from Massive Stroke – Death Deeply Saddens Family, Friends and Advocates Across State

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 08/30/2010  5:00  PM  (Pacific Time)]  -  Dale Sorbello, a long time highly regarded and respected state official and former chief deputy director of the Department of Developmental Services, died early Sunday evening (August 29) at a Sacramento hospital due to complications from a massive stroke.  Sorbello, since his retirement from state service a few years ago, was doing private consulting work with the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA), and collapsed at their offices on Monday, August 16^th.  He was hospitalized in intensive care since that date until his death.

• Superior Court Judge Stops Schwarzenegger Administration From Disqualifying IHSS Workers Based On All Felony Convictions and Certain Misdemeanors
• State Can Only Disqualify Workers Based On Specific Felonies and Other Convictions Already In State Law – Judge’s Ruling Stands Unless Higher State Court Overturns It
  

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 08/24/2010  3:20  PM  (Pacific Time)]  - Alameda Superior Court Judge David Hunter issued an order yesterday (August 23) that stops the Schwarzenegger Administration from moving forward in implementing new policies that would prohibit a person with any felony convictions and certain misdemeanors from working as an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) worker (provider).   [a pdf scanned copy of the 3 page order is attached titled “20100823-OrderGrantingPetitioners’ApplicationforProvisionalReliefbySuperior CourtJudgeHunter.pdf.  Full text of order is reprinted below]

The judge indicated that the various appeals of his original order of March 2010, did not mean his order was delayed  (stayed).  The State, which in May filed papers to appeal the Judge’s earlier ruling, can ask for a delay of the Judge’s order from the State Court of Appeals – or failing that – to the California Supreme Court.

• STATE AUDITOR RELEASES AUDIT REPORT ON DEPT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES AND REGIONAL CENTERS – FOCUS ON PROVIDER RATE RELATED ISSUES
• Audit One of Several Co

• DISABLED, SENIOR, MENTAL HEALTH PROTESTORS BLOCK STREET IN FRONT OF STATE CAPITOL AS BUDGET STAND-OFF CONTINUES INTO DAY 49
• Protestors Urge No Further Cuts To IHSS, CalWORKS and Other Health and Human Services – 22 Arrested, Cited and Released

2010-08-18 - Protestors block L Street in front of State Capitol for three hoursSACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 08/18/2010  07:30 PM  (Pacific Time)]  - Sacramento City Police arrested, cited and then released 22 persons with disabilities, seniors, people with mental health needs, low income persons and other health and human services advocates who refused to stop a protest for a “fair budget” that blocked a major street in front of the State Capitol for over three hours  this afternoon. [Photo above of protest blocking L Street in front of State Capitol including Mark Beckwith of Berkeley in the wheelchair in front of the effigy of Governor Schwarzenegger] 

A ten foot paper mache effigy of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, which came from a earlier Berkeley month long encampment of disability, senior and mental health health advocates in downtown Berkeley called “Arnie-ville”, was the center piece of today’s protest on the street in front of the State Capitol.   Uniformed officers, before arresting the protestors, hauled down the effigy – to a chorus of boos from those watching, and later placed it into a police department truck.

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVE TEMPORARY MEDICAID FUNDING EXTENSION

Federal Bill Heads Now To President Obama – Medicaid Funding Increase (FMAP) Extension Has Major Impact On California’s Budget Shortfall

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 08/10/2010  12:21 PM  (Pacific Time)]  -  The US House of Representatives, breaking for one day from its summer recess, returned to Washington, DC and gave final approval to the legislation that will provide $16.1 billion to partially extend for six months into 2011, the temporary increase in Medicaid matching funds to the states, including California - – though on a “phased down” approach that gives significantly  less money to the states.   The bill passed out of the House by a vote of 247 to 161 with 25 members not voting.

The bill, HR 1586, was approved after about 1 hour of debate, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying the bill was vital in protecting the jobs of health care providers, teachers, firefighter – and to provide vital funding to help states stabilize their budgets.

PAUL LONGMORE, DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATE PASSES AWAY

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 08/10/2010  11:01 AM  (Pacific Time)]  -  Paul K. Longmore of San Francisco, a widely respected disability advocate, author and history professor at San Francisco State University, passed away Monday evening (August 9).

Longmore was considered by advocates across the state and nation as a the leading historian on disability rights and issues.

• GOVERNOR URGES FEDERAL JUDGE TO ALLOW STATE TO RESUME SAME SEX MARRIAGES NOW
• Files Brief With Federal Court on Friday – Action by Republican Governor Certain To Be Unpopular With Republican Conservatives Already Angry For His Proposing and Approving the 2009 Temporary Tax Hikes & Fees

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 08/06/2010  11:40 PM  (Pacific Time)]  -  In a remarkable action as a Republican, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today (August 6) filed a brief urging Federal District Court Judge Vaughn R. Walker to immediately put his ruling into effect and allow people of same sexes to marry in California.  [A copy of the Governor’s 11 page pdf file brief is attached to this CDCAN Report.]

That judge ruled on Wednesday that Proposition 8, approved in November 2008 by California voters with 52% of the vote,  violated the equal protection and due process rights of gays and lesbians.