California’s budget is a complete mess. It’s a living and breathing example of the problems created by liberal policies. Uncle Sam came along to bail them out and the State of California even decided to try a little belt tightening for a change. The legislature voted to reduce the pay of some SEIU workers. The SEIU didn’t like it and appealed directly to the Obama administration. (emphasis mine)
“We lobbied the Obama administration to get the stimulus money to California as quickly as possible, and we pointed out when the state considered action in violation” of the terms for receiving those funds, she said. “We make no apology . . . for expecting the Schwarzenegger administration to obey the law.”
White House representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
During the conference call, state officials say, they were asked to defend the $74-million cut scheduled to take effect July 1. The cut lowers the state’s maximum contribution to home health workers’ pay from $12.10 per hour to $10.10.
The California officials on the call, who requested anonymity for fear of antagonizing the Obama administration, said they needed the savings to help balance the state budget.
The wages go to some 300,000 people who care for the elderly and ill in their homes. Those workers collectively pay millions of dollars in dues each month to SEIU and another union.
SEIU was among the biggest donors to President Obama’s campaign, contributing $33 million. The union is also consistently among the biggest donors to Democrats in Sacramento and had aggressively fought the wage cut during state budget negotiations.
But Democratic lawmakers voted for the reduction in February as part of a budget deal they struck with Republicans, who have repeatedly targeted the multibillion-dollar home-care program.
The rapidly expanding program is intended to keep low-income elderly and disabled Californians out of nursing homes. People who qualify for the program can hire anyone they choose to take care of them, including relatives and friends.
The Obama administration has ruled that California must revoke the wage cut — which would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature and thus would need GOP support — or lose $6.8 billion in federal stimulus funds.
This is what happens when states are fiscally irresponsible. The federal government has to come along and bail them out, leaving the state beholden to the president and the special interest groups that helped get him elected. The Obama administration now has the power to overturn state legislatures.
So much for a republic made up of 50 sovereign states. We certainly got change, but I don’t know if it’s change we can believe in.
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