Thread: Obama Threatens to Yank Calif. Stimulus Funds

Obama Threatens to Yank Calif. Stimulus Funds
Friday, May 8, 2009 11:43 AM
By: Jim Meyers

The Obama administration is threatening to rescind nearly $7 billion in federal stimulus money earmarked for California if the state does not restore wage cuts to unionized home healthcare workers.

The cuts were approved in February as part of the budget approved by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers.

Federal health officials have advised Schwarzenegger's office that the cuts violate provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The cuts involve workers who care for around 440,000 low-income disabled and elderly Californians. They would see their wages reduced from a maximum of $12.10 an hour to a maximum of $10.10.

The SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION, which represents the workers, said in a statement that IT HAD ASKED THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO INTERVENE.

The cuts were pushed by Republican legislators as the state sought to close a $42 billion budget shortfall, while Democrats argued that the healthcare program is a cheaper alternative to nursing home care.

Reversing the reduction requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature and would therefore require GOP support, the Times observed.

Schwarzenegger has asked Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to reconsider.

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/obam ... 12353.html

The cuts involve workers who care for around 440,000 low-income disabled and elderly Californians. They would see their wages reduced from a maximum of $12.10 an hour to a maximum of $10.10.

Nice. It's hard enough to make it here on $12 an hour and now this Dumbo Ears wants to cut wages to those who provide services to our elderly/disabled. I swear this man has no regard for old people or babies!!!!! He's evil....!

You mean Obama isn't supporting the SEIU in this?

You guys have this backwards, Arnold Governator made the wage cuts, Obama wants them reversed back up to $12 an hour.

But here is the thing about these workers, they travel to the disabled and elderly peoples homes to take care of them. Do you get that kind of government service in your state?

The Obama administration is threatening to rescind nearly $7 billion in federal stimulus money earmarked for California if the state does not restore wage cuts to unionized home healthcare workers.

It looks like the story had this sentence reversed?

Shud have read "restore previous wage levels, which had been cut..."
Sloppy writing and editing.