SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 05/20/2010 08:15 AM (Pacific Time)] - The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services yesterday (May 19) on a party-line vote rejected Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposals to eliminate all subsidized child care programs and support services, elimination of the entire CalWORKS program, the elimination of funding for the Drug Medi-Cal Program and $750 million reduction to the In-Home Supportive Services program.Republican Members Did Not Oppose Subcommittee’s Action to Reject Governor’s CalWORKS Proposal
The two Republicans on the subcommittee however did not oppose the motion to reject the Governor’s proposal to eliminate the entire CalWORKS program, abstaining from the vote.
Republican Assemblymember Bill Emmerson did oppose the subcommittee action to reject the Governor’s cuts to IHSS, elimination of the child care and developmental program, and the Drug Medi-Cal program, but abstained.
Action Came After Hours of Compelling Public Testimony
The action by the 6 member subcommittee controlled by the Democrats, came after hours of often emotional and moving public testimony in a packed hearing room by parents and other child care advocates, persons who were or are in the CalWORKS program, county representatives, IHSS workers and recipients and other advocates.
Assemblymember Wes Chesbro (Democrat – Eureka) – who has chaired most of the subcommittee hearings in the past two months, chaired the subcommittee hearing yesterday, due to the absence of Assemblymember Dave Jones (Democrat – Sacramento).
The action by the Assembly panel was meant to send a strong and clear signal to the Governor and perhaps even to its counterpart in the State Senate, on where at least Assembly Democrats stood on those proposals.
Next Steps
· The issues and actions taken by the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services May 19th have not yet been heard or acted on the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, which is expected to hear and act on those issues next week.
· Actions by the both the Assembly and Senate budget subcommittees are not final in a state budget process that will get more complicated in the next two months as the subcommittee hearing phase ends next week – and another begins, with budget conference committee hearings and later – a likely budget stand-off in both houses that could last through the summer or longer.
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN
GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS
Action taken by Assembly Budget Subcommittee 05/19/10:
Reject the Governor’s May Revise proposal to eliminate all subsidized child care programs and support services. Direct staff to work with Department of Finance on recording the technical aspects of this action. Approved 4-1
VOTING YES – 4 TOTAL:
Democrats (4): Wesley Chesbro, Jim Beall, Hector De La Torre and Bob Blumenfield (alternate member)
Republicans (0): ***none***
VOTING NO – 1 TOTAL:
Democrats (0): ***none**
Republicans (1): Brian Nestande
NOT VOTING – BUT PRESENT - 1 TOTAL
Democrats (0): ***none***
Republicans (1): Bill Emmerson
ABSENT – NOT PRESENT AT HEARING - 1 TOTAL
Democrats (1): Dave Jones
Republicans (0): ***none***
CDCAN COMMENT: State Senate budget subcommittee still needs to approve this action.
GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE ENTIRE CALWORKS PROGRAM
Action taken by Assembly Budget Subcommittee 05/19/10:
(1) Accept the estimate changes for caseload in CalWORKs per the updated numbers in the May Revision, and (2) Reject the Governor's May Revise elimination proposal with direction to staff to work with the Department of Finance on the technical aspects of this. With this action, the Subcommittee holds open the remainder of the CalWORKs budget until the Subcommittee meets to close out items in its final hearings. Approved 4-0.
VOTING YES – 4 TOTAL
Democrats (4): Wesley Chesbro, Jim Beall, Hector De La Torre and Bob Blumenfield (alternate member)
Republicans (0): ***none***
VOTING NO – 0 TOTAL:
NOT VOTING – BUT PRESENT – 2 TOTAL
Democrats (0): ***none***
Republicans (2): Bill Emmerson and Brian Nestande
ABSENT – NOT PRESENT AT HEARING – 1 TOTAL
Democrats (1): Dave Jones
Republicans (0): ***none***
CDCAN COMMENT: State Senate budget subcommittee still needs to approve this action.
GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL FOR EDUCTION IN IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES (IHSS) OF $750 MILLION
Action taken by Assembly Budget Subcommittee 05/19/10:
Reject the Governor's May Revise proposal on the $637 million ($750 million ongoing target) with stakeholder consultation. With this action, the IHSS budget will remain open until the Subcommittee closes down final issues in IHSS and across DSS programs in future hearings. Approved 4 -1
VOTING YES – 4 TOTAL
Democrats (4): Wesley Chesbro, Jim Beall, Hector De La Torre and Bob Blumenfield (alternate member)
Republicans (0): ***none***
VOTING NO – 1 TOTAL:
Democrats (0): ***none***
Republicans (1): Brian Nestande
NOT VOTING – BUT PRESENT – 1 TOTAL
Democrats (0): ***none***
Republicans (1): Bill Emmerson
ABSENT – NOT PRESENT AT HEARING – 1 TOTAL
Democrats (1): Dave Jones
Republicans (0): ***none***
CDCAN COMMENT: State Senate budget subcommittee still needs to approve this action.
SUBCOMMITTEE PROPOSAL TO CREATE IHSS BUDGET ADVISORY WORKGROUP TO ADDRESS COST CONTAINMENT & MAXIMIZING FEDERAL FUNDS
Action taken by Assembly Budget Subcommittee 05/19/10:
Adopt placeholder trailer bill language to establish an inclusive IHSS Budget Advisory Workgroup to examine and address issues of cost containment and maximizing federal financial participation, with staff to work with Members and return to the Subcommittee with a more developed product to consider for vote-only. Approved 6 - 0
VOTING YES – 6 TOTAL
Democrats (4): Wesley Chesbro, Jim Beall, Hector De La Torre and Bob Blumenfield (alternate member)
Republicans (2): Bill Emmerson and Brian Nestande
VOTING NO – 0 TOTAL:
ABSENT – NOT PRESENT AT HEARING – 1 TOTAL
Democrats (1): Dave Jones
Republicans (0): ***none***
WHAT THIS ACTION MEANS: The subcommittee rejected the Governor’s proposal to reduce the IHSS program by $750 million ($637 million in State general fundsfor the 2010-2011 State Budget year due to the higher federal matching funds, and $750 million in subsequent years) but approved this alternative proposal -that would create an IHSS Budget Advisory Workgroup, similar to what the Governor proposed, but with no requirement that it must come up of how to achieve a targeted cut of $750 million by July 1st. Instead this workgroup would look at issues regarding controlling costs and maximizing federal funding for the IHSS program, working with budget subcommittee staff and members and return with a “more developed” proposal for vote only by the subcommittee. State Senate budget subcommittee still needs to approve this action.
GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE DRUG MEDI-CAL (EXCEPT FOR PERINATAL AND YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAMS)
Action taken by Assembly Budget Subcommittee 05/19/10:
Accept the caseload changes in Drug Medi-Cal per the May Revise and reject the Governor's proposal to eliminate DMC for the modalities affected by the proposal. . Approved 4 -1
VOTING YES – 4 TOTAL
Democrats (4): Wesley Chesbro, Jim Beall, Hector De La Torre and Bob Blumenfield (alternate member)
Republicans (0): ***none***
VOTING NO – 1 TOTAL:
Democrats (0): ***none***
Republicans (1): Brian Nestande
NOT VOTING – BUT PRESENT – 1 TOTAL
Democrats (0): ***none***
Republicans (1): Bill Emmerson
ABSENT – NOT PRESENT AT HEARING – 1 TOTAL
Democrats (1): Dave Jones
Republicans (0): ***none***
CDCAN COMMENT: The Drug Medi-Cal is the program under the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs that provides substance abuse treatment services for Medi-Cal recipients (different from the Medi-Cal prescription drug program)
State Senate budget subcommittee still needs to approve this action.
SENATE HEARING SCHEDULED FRIDAY
SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #3 ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
DATE: MAY 21, 2010 (FRIDAY)
TIME: 09:30 AM
WHERE: State Capitol – Room 4203
WHAT WILL BE HEARD
Governor’s May Revised Budget proposals and “open” issues:
* Department of Health Care Services – Family Health (Budget Item 4260)
* Department of Developmental Services (Budget Item 4300)
* Department of Public Health – Selected Issues (Budget Item 4265)
* Other departments as necessary
PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Yes – though not likely on items “for vote only” or items previously heard
PRIORITY: VERY HIGH
SHOULD PEOPLE COME TO THIS HEARING: Yes – for those concerned about the proposal for additional cut 1.25% reduction in payments to most regional center providers and operations (on top of existing 3%) and other “open” issues not yet acted on. The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services is hearing this issue today (May 20th)
CDCAN COMMENT: “Open” issues refers to issues this subcommittee has previously heard earlier this year but still needs to take action on.
