CDCAN REPORT #025-2011: 7 Republican & Democratic legislators urge rejection of the Governor's proposed cuts to IHSS at press conference

[Photo of Republican Assemblymember Paul Cook (speaking) and left to right, Democratic Assemblymember Marty Block and UDW Executive Director Doug Moore, Republican Assemblymembers Brian Nestande, Jim Silva and Democratic Sen. Juan Vargas at the press conference and rally at the State Capitol on January 27, 2011.  Photo by Marty Omoto]

• 7 REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS OPPOSE GOVERNOR’S CUTS TO IHSS AT PRESS CONFERENCE – HUNDREDS PACK STATE CAPITOL FOR BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON IHSS, SSI/SSP CUTS
• About 100 People With Disabilities, Seniors, the Blind, IHSS Workers and Advocates Testify Before Assembly Budget Subcommittee Opposing Cuts to IHSS, Citing Also Opposition To Cuts Proposed for SSI/SSP, Medi-Cal, Regional Centers – Subcommittee Keeps Items “Open” For Later Action

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN) [Updated 01/28/2011 – 06:50 AM  (Pacific Time)] – In a politically highly unusual event, seven Democratic and Republican legislators spoke out strongly against Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed $500 million in state general fund reductions to the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program at a press conference and rally at the State Capitol yesterday morning.  Some of the legislators also spoke out strongly against the other cuts to health and human services serving children and adults with disabilities and seniors. 

Speaking at the press conference held outside the State Capitol on the North Steps just before a protest rally against the Governor’s proposed cuts to IHSS, were Sen. Juan Vargas (Democrat – San Diego, 40th State Senate District) who introduced Assemblymember Paul Cook (Republican – Yucaipa, 65th Assembly District), Assemblymember Marty Block (Democrat – San Diego, 78th Assembly District), Assemblymember Brian Nestande (Republican – Palm Desert, 64th Assembly District), Assemblymember Jim Silva (Republican – Huntington Beach, 67th Assembly District) and Assemblymember Toni Atkins (Democrat – San Diego, 76th Assembly District).

About an hour earlier,  Sen. Leland Yee (Democrat – San Francisco, 8th State Senate District), also spoke briefly in opposition to the Governor’s proposed reductions to the program and other health and human services.

The press conference and rally proceeded a hearing by the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services on Governor Brown’s proposed cuts to IHSS, SSI/SSP maximum individual monthly grants (and also budget issues impacting Adult Protective Services and Child Welfare Services including cut to the foster care program), where hundreds packed the State Capitol hearing room and other rooms in the building.  [See below for details]

Vargas Says He Supported Brown But That  Governor Is Wrong On the Cuts To the Poor and People With Disabilities and Seniors

Vargas, a former Assemblymember who succeeded termed out Sen. Denise Ducheny last November, opened the press conference, which was organized by the United Domestic Workers (UDW), one of the three unions who represent IHSS workers and introduced the six Republican and Democratic legislators who joined him in support of the IHSS program and in opposition to the Governor’s proposed cuts to IHSS.

Those cuts to the IHSS program includes:

• Increasing across the board reductions in hours for all IHSS recipients that is of 3.6% set to go into effect February 1 (passed as part of the 2010-2011 State Budget enacted in October 2010),  by another 8.4%, to go into effect – if approved by the Legislature – July 1, 2011 (for a total reduction of 12%).  This reduction also impacts IHSS workers – who will see their working hours reduced by that cut which could impact their health care benefits depending on the county they work in. 
• Elimination of domestic and related services for children under age of 18 years old living at home and adults living with another person (the Governor does propose exemptions to persons for certain reasons or circumstances)
• Narrow eligibility for IHSS by requiring a doctor’s certification that a person is “at risk” of institutionalization unless they receive IHSS  – a change that the Brown Administration says would mean over 40,000 children and adults would lose eligibility for all services in the IHSS program.
• Elimination of state funding for county IHSS Advisory Committees.
• Also reductions that impact the same people receiving services under IHSS, including reducing the maximum SSI/SSP individual monthly grants (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment) from $845 to $830 – the lowest amount allowed by the federal government (grants to couples were reduced by the State in 2009 to the lowest level allowed by the federal government) , proposed cuts if over $1.7 billion in Medi-Cal including elimination of Adult Day Health Care, Multipurpose Senior Services Program, caps and limits on several Medi-Cal services, co-payments on certain Medi-Cal services, proposed cuts in State general fund spending of over $750 million to  regional centers (developmental services) community-based services for children and adults with developmental disabilities – including cuts that could impact infants with developmental delays in the state’s Early Start program.

Vargas Says Cutting Health & Human Service Programs Is “Wrong Thing To Do Ethically and Morally”

Vargas said that he was a “…proud Democrat – and I did vote for Jerry – but he is wrong on this one” and “…sometimes when you have a brother that has gone the wrong way…you have to go and tell them: ‘you’re going the wrong way’. “

Cutting IHSS and the other health and human service programs Vargas sad is the “…wrong thing to do ethically and morally….the social services system we have – we can’t shred it [with cuts] because it won’t come back….we have to prevent these cuts”   Vargas said that the State needed to “look somewhere else…we cannot have these cuts”

Vargas said that “we are working in a bi-partisan way to save this program” and that he was “…happy to be here with some Republican friends of mine…They know you cannot cut the poor as proposed in this budget. “  Vargas said that the State “…cannot balance this budget on the backs of the poor…..”

Cook Says Reforms Needed In Government Spending – But Other Areas To Cut – Says Not All Republicans Are Against “Issues You Stand For”

Republican Assemblymember Paul Cook, speaking next, answered the question that was on the minds of many in the audience outside on the North Steps of th State Capitol. about the presence of three Republican lawmakers saying “…why is Paul Cook out here?  You know, Paul Cook is a Republican….Aren’t all Republicans against the issues you stand for? The answer is no!”

Cook said it was partly personal, “…because you look at what we are talking about.  Now, you look at me and it doesn’t take a magnifying glass [to tell how old he is]…I won’t tell you how old I am [laughter]…I am so close…At my age you know, one of the things that is extremely important  [is] I don’t want to be dumped some place. I want to stay as close as possible [with my loved ones].

He repeated again that “Full disclosure – I am Republican”  and that “you are never going to convince some of my colleagues you have a righteous cause” but that the reason “I get excited about this” is the cost savings that he believes IHSS achieves by allowing people to remain in their own homes as opposed to institutional care.

He said that reforms are needed “in terms of where we are spending money and how we are spending it. I am looking at cuts in different areas. But there are other areas of government that  I personally feel have to be cut more than this particular program. From a cost benefit analysis and going back to the merit of the program, I believe in it.  I wouldn’t be out here [if he didn’t].”

Democrat Block Says Issue Not Partisan But About People

Democratic Assemblymember Marty Block, who spoke after Cook, said that “this is not a partisan issue - this is an issue about people. It’s the most vulnerable people in our society that we have to come [Republicans and Democrats] together and protect.”  Block said cutting In-Home Supportive Services “…just doesn’t make fiscal sense”  and made a direct plea to the Brown saying “I ask you Governor - don’t make these cuts – we know cuts have to be made, but not on the backs of the most vulnerable Californians.”

Republican Nestande Urges More Thoughtful Approach For State To Identify Best Practices, Reforms To Save Money – Opposes Governor’s Proposal

Republican Assemblymember Brian Nestande said that  In-Home Supportive Services “…provides vital services to the elderly and the disabled” and that the workers “…who do this work are dedicated people who care deeply about those in need.”

But he criticized the Governor’s proposal for $500 million in reductions to IHSS, saying that “the Governor’s plan to cut 30% in IHSS and 10% in nursing homes doesn’t make sense. We know that nursing homes cost up to five times more than health care.“

Nestande also said “…we also know there are inefficiencies in the IHSS program as there are in other government programs - as there are in the private sector” but “our job as legislators is to follow the best practices as they do in the private sector and identify those inefficiencies and improve the program.  We can do that by being thoughtful and diligently looking at new ways to deliver the same services and save taxpayer dollars at the same time. Let’s not follow the approach of cutting vital services without looking for real reforms.”

Orange County Republican Silva Says IHSS Cost Effective And Says “There Are Too Many Other Areas” Where State Can Cut

Republican Assemblymember Silva said that his staff had prepared remarks for him to give but that he didn’t need the talking points because “I’ve been living this issue for the past 18 years” noting his prior experience as an Orange County supervisor before coming to the Legislature. As a county supervisor he said he “…worked on the [budget] numbers and I know it’s a lot more cost effective to have in-home care [rather] than someone in a convalescent hospital or some other medical treatment.“

Silva also said “I know we are having to make cuts. California is responsible for public safety, education and health. Health is right at the top. This is not a program that can be cut because it will be more expensive in the long run.”

Silva said he would do what he could to stop the proposed cuts saying that “I am very proud to stand here with you and I will do everything I can to convince my colleagues in the State Legislature…There are too many other areas we can cut back on – but In-Home services is not one of them.“

New Democratic Assemblymember Atkins Pledges Support

Newly elected Democratic Assemblymember Toni Atkins from San Diego not part of the official press conference, was able to make a brief appearance and was introduced by Vargas.   Atkins praised the IHSS program and pledged her support and opposition to the Governor’s proposed cuts saying it was important to be visible because “…you have to be engaged in this fight.”

Vargas Says Poor and People With Disabilities and Seniors Have A Constituency At State Capitol – Says “We Are Going To Work In A Bi-Partisan Way To Save This Program”

In closing the press conference Vargas promised that “we are going to work in a bi-partisan way to save this program. People have said that we are just going to roll over [with these proposed cuts], and that we’re not going to push back when it comes to issues of the poor. That they don’t have a constituency.  Yes they do – yes they do…..they are in our hearts – we are fighting for them. We don’t want them in on the street. We don’t want them outside of their homes. We want them to know we are fighting for them…that is why we are here.”

Assembly Budget Subcommittee Holds Hearing On IHSS, SSI/SSP and Other Proposed Cuts By Governor Brown – Hundreds Pack Hearing Room and Other Parts of State Capitol

Following the press conference by the legislators and rally, hundreds of people with disabilities, workers and other advocates packed the Assembly hearing room and other parts of the State Capitol for the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services hearing on the Governor’s proposed cuts to IHSS, SSI/SSP individual grants, and proposals regarding child welfare services and adult protective services.  [CDCAN will issue full report with details later today covering testimony and presentations made at this hearing – and also the hearing by the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on Wednesday on Medi-Cal including proposed elimination of Adult Day Health Centers]

About 100 persons lined up to testify to provide brief public comment before the subcommittee, chaired by Assemblymember Holly Mitchell (Democrat – Los Angeles, 47th Assembly District) on the IHSS program proposed cuts alone in public comments which were often emotional with some tearfully begging policymakers not to approve the cuts because it would mean a loss of their homes or loved ones.  Many others in others who were not able to get into the hearing room because it was filled to capacity, watched the hearing live on TV monitors, and were not able to testify – though the subcommittee chair did allow everyone who was able to get into the room from the balcony and other locations time to provide public comment.

The IHSS part of the hearing took about 2 and half hours – followed by the SSI/SSP individual grant proposed cuts.

Assemblymember Wes Chesbro (Democrat – Arcata, 1st Assembly District), at the end of the public testimony of both IHSS and SSI/SSP budget issues, thanked the people who did testify said it was critical and important to be visible and that those testifying “put a face” on the budget proposals the Legislature must consider.

Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (Democrat – Davis, 8th Assembly District), chair of the Assembly Aging and Long Term Care Committee but not a member of the Assembly budget subcommittee, sat in nearly all of the entire hearing, asking questions.

Subcommittee Holds Items “Open” For Later Action Likely In Late February

• Like the proposed cuts to Medi-Cal and other major issues it heard this week, the Senate and Assembly budget subcommittees heard this week, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee did not take any action on the Governor’s proposed reductions to IHSS, SSI/SSP, holding those budget proposals “open” for later final action. 
• The Legislature will likely take final action on these proposals and the other major spending reduction proposals sometime in mid to late February. 
• The Governor – given the enormous budget deficit of over $25 billion – wants the Legislature to take action on his budget plan on a fast track – before March 1st – in order to fully implement many of the cuts by July 1 or sooner – and also to meet State and county deadlines to place proposals to extend temporary tax increases and related measures for voter approval on a June special election.