Disabled Worker Jobs Under Attack
Last
week it was announced that Governor Doyle’s Administration is proposing to cut
disabled workers’ jobs. These jobs are administered through the Wisconsin
Department of Health Services under Wisconsin’s Family Care Program.
The
proposed cuts are included as part of an application to the federal government
for an extension of the Family Care Program which is set to expire December 31,
2009.
Camouflaged as new guidelines for prevocational services, the proposed changes
would prohibit workers with disabilities from being eligible for long term
employment opportunities. Instead, disabled workers will potentially be moved
from employment to undetermined day care services.
According to the group Rehabilitation of Wisconsin, 66,000 disabled workers are
currently employed in 66 work centers throughout the state. An estimated 10,000
individuals would initially be adversely affected by the proposed changes.
One of
the work centers affected is Waupaca County Industries of Manawa - located in
the 40th Assembly District I represent. Waupaca County Industries
offers assembly, packaging, and janitorial services. Their employees perform
services to the community, and in return get a sense of pride and self
confidence achieved through gainful employment.
With
state unemployment above 8 percent and over 132,608 continuing unemployment
claims each week, I would hope that protecting thousands of jobs would be a
priority for the current leadership of Wisconsin’s government.
Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case for 10,000 disabled workers.
The Doyle Administration claims this is a cost cutting move that has to be done
in these hard economic times. However, there are numerous cuts that could be
made without sacrificing our vulnerable citizens.
For
example; $37 million in earmarks were included in the 2009 -11 biennium budget
recently passed by legislative Democrats on an almost straight party line vote.
Earmarks included $5 million given to the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Diverse
and Resilient Inc. (A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender promoting
organization) received $110,000. A total of $46,000 went to the Town of
Wrightstown for recycling bins.
The
list of earmarks and special interest pork goes on and on. Once again, the
Democrat leader’s priorities do not protect our most vulnerable citizens. Jobs
for the disabled could be saved merely by eliminating pork projects.
Furthermore, the changes to Family Care were made without any input from the
legislature. Wisconsin’s biennial budget specifically had language providing
legislative oversight on any cuts to Medicaid programs. However, Governor Doyle
vetoed the legislative oversight giving his department total control.
In an
attempt to halt these egregious changes, I cosigned a letter with 45 of my
colleagues requesting Governor Doyle reverse the recommended changes to Family
Care. I also voted in favor of a motion on the Assembly floor to override the
governor’s legislative oversight veto. This action failed on a straight
partisan Democrat vote.
There
is still time before the Family Care change recommendations are sent to the
federal government for approval. Prevocational jobs provide a sense of pride
and independence to disabled workers. I strongly encourage Governor Doyle and
his administration to rethink their proposed changes.
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