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“Green Wave” Rolls to State Capitol to
Hundreds of UDW members from as far away as Riverside and Orange Counties rallied at the State Capitol on April 1 to demand that legislators rescind significant cuts in the In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program slated to take effect on July 1. The cuts were triggered with last month’s announcement that the state will not receive $10 billion in federal stimulus funds. IHSS consumers—low-income elderly, blind and disabled citizens—would be forced to pay an average of $427 a month more for home care. In addition, home care providers in 23 California counties—including Placer, Riverside, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo–will see their wages reduced. “This fight is not over,” UDW President Laura Reyes said. “Our message to the legislators is that they have from now until July 1 to do the right thing and rescind the cuts to IHSS. It is shameful that many of our so-called ‘friends’ in the Legislature, including the leadership, voted to cut IHSS. But they still have time to correct their mistake.” The rally, held in conjunction with an Assembly budget hearing, was organized by the statewide IHSS Coalition. In a hearing room packed with UDW members, Executive Director Doug Moore blasted legislators for turning IHSS into a “political football”.
“You need to think about the moral ground you stood on when you voted for these cuts,” Moore said. “Can you really look at yourself in the mirror and say: ‘I did the right thing by voting for cuts in IHSS’? Can you look us in the eye and say: ‘I did what’s right for you’? If you can, you do not belong in the legislature. “You have a moral responsibility as an elected official to help those who are the most vulnerable in our society. Use it wisely. Have the moral courage to do the right thing and reconsider your cuts to IHSS.” Outside the Capitol, surrounded by a sea of green shirts, providers, clients and others denounced the cuts and demanded they be rescinded.
“I did not come here to talk about money, or numbers, or budgets,” said UDW member Blanca Quintero of Riverside County, one of the speakers at the rally. “I came because I want you to know that home care providers and the people they care for matter.” Pointing to the State Capitol, she said: “We ask our leaders in this building: ‘Would you force your mother or father into a nursing home? Would you deprive your husband and wife of needed care? Would you break your promise to your family like you’ve done to nearly a half million IHSS consumers and the people who care for them?’
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