Category Archives: Advocacy
Heastie: All sides agree on more money for direct care workers: Politico – 3/15/17
FROM: Politico, March 15, 2017
Heastie: All sides agree on more money for direct care workers
By Josefa Velasquez
03/15/2017 02:10 PM EDT
ALBANY — The Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo appear to have reached an agreement to fund wage increase for direct care workers, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Wednesday, but details are still elusive.
“Money for direct care workers, I think that’s something we all agree … that’s a perfect example where I think all sides agree on more money,” Heastie told reporters.
Direct care employers, those who work with the elderly and disabled, have been complaining that the increase in the minimum wage, while a positive for the state overall, means it will be harder to recruit and retain employees if they can earn as much working at a fast food restaurant.
The Assembly’s one-house budget proposal includes $45 million for direct care workers beginning in April, the start of the fiscal year.
While the Senate also supports $45 million for direct care workers, its one-house budget resolution calls for $11.25 million for the implementation of direct care workers’ salary increase beginning Jan. 1, 2018, the final quarter of the fiscal year.
A spokesman for the state’s budget division remained non-committal, despite Heastie’s remarks.
“Budget negotiations on this and hundreds of other issues continue,” said budget spokesman Morris Peters.
A spokesman for bFair2DirectCare — a coalition that includes nonprofits that serve the developmentally disabled — lauded the Legislature for committing to wage increases for direct care workers.
“We are hopeful that the final budget will include this funding to start providing direct care workers with a living wage,” said spokesman Steve Greenberg. “We hope it will start as soon as possible because the crisis is real and it’s upon us today and clearly lawmakers, Democrats and Republican, Senate and Assembly recognize this crisis that direct care agencies are facing and it requires immediate attention.”
To view online:
http://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2017/03/heastie-all-sides-agree-on-more-money-for-direct-care-workers-110395
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Proposed Cuts to Medicaid Devastate Services for People with Developmental Disabilities!
Speak Up Now!
Proposed Cuts to Medicaid Devastate Services for People with Developmental Disabilities!
The Replace and Repeal Act that Paul Ryan introduced includes cuts to Medicaid, limiting how much money states get for Medicaid. This affects Residential, Adult Day, Self-Direction, Respite and Community Habilitation as well as Related Services for school age children. They are paid for with Medicaid dollars. Without this money services could be reduced or eliminated!
It is critical that legislators, specifically the New York Congressional delegation, hear from us.
Social Media Campaign
Along with other groups, we have signed on to the #BecauseOfMedicaid social media campaign to make it clear how important Medicaid services are in the lives of New Yorkers.
We must oppose the American Health Care Act’s proposed cuts to Medicaid, They mean the end of the Federal government’s commitment to funding based on need.
Campaign dates: March 13, 2017 – March 17, 2017
The social media campaign is short, it’s this Wednesday – Friday for tweets, selfies videos, and Facebook posts
The hashtag is #BecauseofMedicaid. A list of New York Congressional Representatives is listed below.
Sample Messages:
- @RepPeteKing #BecauseOfMedicaid, my daughter with developmental disabilities has Adult Day services where she learns self-care skills.
- @dandonovan_ny #BecauseOfMedicaid, people with Developmental Disabilities get critical survival services to keep them safe.
- @RepJohnFaso #BecauseOfMedicaid, over 100,000 New Yorkers with Developmental Disabilities receive specialized supports and services.
List of NY Congressional Twitter Handles and Facebook Pages
CD 1: Lee Zeldin, @RepLeeZeldin, https://www.facebook.com/LeeMZeldin/
CD 2: Peter King, @RepPeteKing, https://www.facebook.com/reppeteking/
CD 11: Dan Donovan, @dandonovan_ny
CD 19: John Faso, @RepJohnFaso, https://www.facebook.com/RepJohnFaso/
CD 21: Elise Stefanik, @RepStefanik, https://www.facebook.com/RepEliseStefanik/
CD 22:Claudia Tenney, @claudiatenney, https://www.facebook.com/RepClaudiaTenney/
CD 23: Tom Reed, @RepTomReed, https://www.facebook.com/RepTomReed/
CD 24: John Katko, @RepJohnKatko, https://www.facebook.com/RepJohnKatko/
CD 27, Chris Collins, @RepChrisCollins
HELP WANTED: NYC FAIR NEEDS YOU
Governor’s 30Day Amendments expected Thursday evening TWITTER ACTION ALERT!!!!
Governor Cuomo’s 30-Day Amendments are due to be released tomorrow. This is his last opportunity to add the $45 million to his budget to begin to increase salaries to a living wage. We have been asked to go on a “blistering pace of twitter activity over the next 24 hours or until Cuomo releases his 30-day budget amendments.” Below is the request from one of the BFair2DirectCare Coalition’s consultants on what he would like to see with the Twitter activity over the next 24 hours:
Let’s tell @nygovcuomo he still has a chance to be a hero.
Let’s empty the barrels of all our good previous stuff — photos, news stories, Facebook links, videos, all the great stuff from Harvey Weisenberg, etc. and send them right to Cuomo’s handle with a sharp message.
You could include this line:
@NYGovCuomo be a hero, fund a #livingwage @Fair2DirectCare
See Below for More Details & another Link Clip Links
Gmail – Governor’s 30-Day Amendments expected Thursday evening — TWITTER ACTION ALERT!!!!