Sat Mar 28 2009
Corporations Enriched with Giveaways But Funding Shortfall for Seniors and Disabled
On Friday, March 27, protesters decried budget cuts to home care workers in front of the State Building in Oakland. SEIU, which organized the protest, claimed that the California budget passed in February contains $1 billion in "trigger cuts" to home care, health care, higher education, SSI/SSP, and CalWORKS. The Oakland protest was part of a day of action organized by SEIU that included a rally at the Capitol Building in Sacramento and in five other cities. "When legislators buried these 'trigger cuts' deep in the February budget agreement, they were counting on not having to take responsibility for their decision to make such unpopular cuts. We're coming to our leaders' front doors to demand they accept responsibility for their decisions that will harm the elderly, the sick, people with disabilities, struggling families, and students," said Paula Cantera, a home care provider in Napa County. The home care workers weren't alone. "If our leaders can find a way to enrich corporations with billions in shameless giveaways, they can find a way to protect our seniors an people with disabilities, " said Gary Passmore, Executive Director of the Congress of California Seniors.
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