CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK (CDCAN)
CAPITOL NEWS REPORT #007-2005   www.cdcan.us 
January 10, 2005 - Monday
Linking people to disability rights and unified action
Remembering The Late US Congressman Robert Matsui of Sacramento

GOVERNOR CALLS FOR MAJOR CUTS TO SSI/SSP & IHSS IN PROPOSED BUDGET
* WANTS WORKER WAGES ROLLED BACK TO MINIMUM WAGE
* SSI/SSP COST OF LIVING FOR 1/06 TO BE SUSPENDED
* PROPOSES THAT SSI/SSP FEDERAL COLA FOR 1/06 BE WITHHELD
* MAJOR IMPACT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIORS
* ADVOCATES VOW MAJOR FIGHT

SACRAMENTO  - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled his proposed State budget for 2005-2006 today that calls for major reductions and changes to a wide range of health and human service programs, including a major cut to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), proposing that the State rollback its contribution to IHSS worker wages to the State minimum wage effective October 1, 2005.  In addition the Governor proposes to permanently suspend the State cost of living increase for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Program (SSI/SSP) and to withold the federal cost of living adjustment that was scheduled to take effect January 1, 2006.

The Governor made similar proposals last year that ignited massive protests at the State Capitol - and his proposals are almost certain to do so again.  Though the Governor's proposal on reducing the State's contribution to IHSS worker wages does not explicitly mean wages would have to be rolled back, advocates point out that counties do not have the funds to replace the State's contribution and the result would mean a rollback of IHSS worker wages to the State minimum wage by October 1, 2005, if the Legislature approved the Governor's proposal.

Referring to the cuts to SSI/SSP and In-Home Supportive Services that Governor told a reporter that  "...if we give the money to everyone once, then we would be billions and billions in deficit every year.   We have to live within our means.  "

The Governor's budget did include increases for growth in caseload for many health and human service programs, including regional center funded community-based services - but there were reductions also made in those programs too.  See separate CDCAN Capitol News Report within the hour for details - and also details on the other proposals made by the Governor, including changes to Medi-Cal.

COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES - IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
Background:  In-Home Supportive Services provides support services to enable eligible people to live in their own homes as an alternative to out-of-home or institutional care.  IHSS serves people with developmental and other disabilities, seniors, the blind and certain other people with low incomes.  Services include domestic services including meal preparation, laundry, shopping, and other errands; personal care services, assistance traveling to health care appointments, protective supervision, training that focus on reducing need of supportive services
Caseload projected for 2004-2005 (monthly) : 354,893
Caseload projected for 2005-2006 (monthly):  382,124 (or 7.7% increase)
Note: caseload includes about 15,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities.
What the Governor proposes:
* Total budget proposed for this program: $2.8 billion (a decrease from $3.146 billion from 2005-06)
* State's contribution for IHSS worker wages rolled back to level as of June 30, 2004, effective 7/1/05.
* State's contribution for IHSS worker wages rolled back to the State minimum wage, effective 10/1/05.

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME/STATE SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAM (SSI/SSP)
Background: The federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides a monthly cash benefit to eligible seniors, people with disabilities, the  blind who meet  income and resource requirements. In California, this cash grant is supplemented with an additional State Supplementary Payment (SSP) grant. These cash grants assist people with basic needs and living expenses. The federal Social Security Administration administers the SSI/SSP program, making eligibility determinations and grant computations and issuing combined monthly checks to recipients.  The Department of Social Services handles the administration of the program for the State.
Grant Levels:  Beginning in April 2005, monthly grant payment levels will be increased to $812 for an aged or disabled individual and $1,437 for a couple. These levels reflect the pass-through of a 2.7 percent federal COLA effective January 1, 2005 and provision of a 2.75 percent State COLA effective April 1, 2005.
Caseload projected for 2004-2005:  1,188,515 people with disabilities & seniors
Caseload projected for 2005-2006:  1,216,388 for increase of 2.3%
Note: caseload is about 68% persons with developmental and other disabilities, 30% seniors and 2% persons who are blind.
What the Governor proposes:
* Total budget proposed for this program: $3.5 billion (1.1% increase or $79.1 million from 2004-2005) to allow for increase in caseload for the program.
* State cost of living (COLA) of 4.6% currently scheduled for 1/1/06 will be permanently suspended
* Federal cost of living of 2.3% for 1/1/06 will not be passed through to recipients
* Both the suspension and withholding of the pass through mean a reduction to the SSI/SSP of $258.9 million for 2005-06, and $517.8 million in following budget years.

NEXT STEPS
.* BUDGET HEARINGS - The Governor's budget plan needs approval by both houses of the Legislature.  The proposals impacting SSI/SSP and IHSS will be heard by the by the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services and the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services  probably in March or April (though nothing is scheduled or definite).  Until then, nothing is final.
* DISABILITY/SENIOR RIGHTS TOWNHALL TELEMEETING - update on budget, next steps, set for January 14, Friday morning 10 AM to noon.  To participate, see CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us  or call CDCAN at 916/442-8877 ext 100 and talk to Kathryn Storm (Training Toward Self Reliance staff).

URGENT - CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED TO CONTINUE EFFORT CAN CONTRIBUTE VIA NON-PROFIT 501(c)3  see below
Many many, thanks again,  to the friends, people with disabilities and their families, community organizations and others who have sent in generous and needed contributions and donations.  Contributions from people and organizations is very urgently needed to keep the advocacy efforts going for the next several months, as we work to establish non-profit status which we are working on.. Apologies to anyone who have not yet received a thank you - email, letters, calls have been overwhelming!  Your help is needed though to keep the effort going in 2005.
Please make check or money order  to:  California Disability Community Action Network  (or abbreviate CDCAN) OR, if for tax deduction purposes, you can make the check out to TTSR (Training Toward Self Reliance), which is a 501C-3 non-profit organization, and indicate on check that contribution is for support for "CDCAN".
A method to contribute by credit card (through Paypal) is NOW set up on our website, at www.cdcan.us  [new site address]  Send contributions to: California Disability Community Action Network (see below for mailing address)
* How To Receive CDCAN Capitol News Reports and Alerts
The California Disability Community Action Network is a non-partisan link to thousands of Californians with developmental and other disabilities, people with traumatic brain and other injures, seniors and their families, community organizations and providers, direct care and other workers, and other advocates. These action alerts and news reports is for all of them.   If you would like to get on this distribution (and conversely, get off of it) please send an email with that  request to:  martyomoto@rcip.com  OR sign up via the NEW CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us   Sharing information is part of our organizing effort. Please feel free to forward or copy  this (attribution is nice). We're all in this together!
* How To Contact CDCAN
Marty Omoto, director/organizer  New WEBSITE address:  www.cdcan.us 
1225 8th Street Suite 480 Sacramento, CA 95814   VOICE PHONE: 916/446-0013
FAX number: 916/446-0026        email: martyomoto@rcip.com