Best friends forever?

Shown below is Mary Kay "No truce for NUHW" Henry and Sonoma County homecare's very own Karen "____, you're a sleazy bitch" Timmons. If I were that physically close to MKH, I'd be locking horns with her by asking her uncomfortable questions about the past betrayal of her union's members.

State's Largest Voice on In-Home Care Reacts to Governor's Revised Budget Proposal

This is interesting to me since homecare and nursing home members in Zombie UHW will be eventually forced into this ghetto local of SEIU. I wonder what the Zombie are doing to prevent this wholesale attack on homecare workers. Given their implicit approval of fingerprinting of providers (homecare workers) I'm putting my Monopoly money on no action from Zombie UHW whatsoever.

---

LOS ANGELES, May 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SEIU ULTCW, the United Long Term Care Workers, will host a brief tele-press conference later today, reacting to Governor Schwarzeneggar's Revised Budget Proposal related to the funding of In-Home Care for some 400,000 low-income elderly and disabled Californians. Laphonza Butler, President of the 179,000 member union will be giving reaction and taking questions.
In his prior budget, submitted in January, the Governor proposed a nearly 87% elimination of this vital, cost-saving, lifeline-level program.  

What: Tele Press Conference on CA In-Home Care Budget
When: Today, Friday May 14 at 3:00 PM, PST
Where: By Phone. Call-In Instructions ?
Dial 1-866 278 0296, passcode: 9967401
For more background on us, go to www.seiu-ultcw.org

"You Have 0 Friends"

Ever notice how half of the Zombie UHW emails use the phrase so-and-so reject NUHW? The Zombies should know rejection of NUHW from constant pounding of members until they voted SEIU is a hollow victory at best. Well now the shoe is on the other foot and SEIU, as a whole is being rejected by both ILGWU and UNITE HERE. So what to do, when no one wants to be your friend? Well it's official: the unintended consequences of raiding UNITE HERE while denying such a treacherous action is taking place is proof no one that matters likes SEIU! Keep shooting yourself in the foot Zombies.

Fingerprinting of homecare consumers finally illegal!

Thanks to the unanimous decisions of Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, chair Assemblymembers Wes Chesbro, Jim Beall (both Democrats) Bob Emmerson and Brian Nestande (both Republicans) the fingerprinting for consumers as an anti-fraud measure is now illegal. Thanks to Marty Omoto for his timely report on this crucial decision.

California Budget Crisis:

Assembly Budget Subcommittee Votes to Rescind Fingerprinting Requirement of IHSS Recipients – Follows Senate Budget Subcommittee Action Last Week

Law Remains In Force Until Full Legislature and Governor Approve It As Part of 2010-2011 State Budget

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 05/12/2010  02:50 PM  (Pacific Time)] – The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, chaired by Assemblymember Wes Chesbro (Democrat – Eureka, 1^st Assembly District) voted  4 to 0 this afternoon to rescind the state law passed as part of the 2009-2010 State Budget last July that requires the fingerprinting of all recipients receiving In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS).  Note: the final vote could change if any missing subcommittee members add their votes to the roll call. 

The action was supported by Democrats Chesbro and Assemblymember Jim Beall and also the subcommittee’s two Republican members, Assemblymember Bob Emmerson and Brian Nestande.

The motion by Assemblymember Chesbro would reject the $8.2 million currently in the 2009-2010 State Budget and $5.6 million funding proposed in the 2010-2011 State Budget and any additional associated funding for purposes of fingerprinting IHSS recipients and shift any unspent money into the budget of the Department of Social Services.  Chesbro’s motion would also create corresponding budget related language (referred to as “budget trailer bill”) that would rescind current state law requiring fingerprinting of all IHSS recipients and also state law that requires their fingerprints on all timesheets of their IHSS worker (provider). 

The action follows a similar vote last week by the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services chaired by Sen. Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco).

What The Action Means

·         The action by both subcommittees today and last week is not final and still needs approval of the entire State Senate and Assembly -  and then approval of the Governor.  Those approvals will be part of any overall agreement for the 2010-2011 State Budget which, given the enormous budget deficit, will likely be months away. 

·         The action today would rescind or repeal state law – and the funding to implement it – the requirement for mandatory fingerprinting of all recipients who receive IHSS.  The current state law does allow for certain exemptions of the requirement.  However the fingerprinting law still remains in force until final action on this is given by the full Legislature and approved by the Governor as part of the 2010-2011 State Budget.

·         The requirement to fingerprint all IHSS recipients has not been implemented yet by the Department of Social Services – the state agency that oversees the IHSS program statewide, but is proceeding forward as a pilot in certain parts of the state.  If the full Legislature and Governor end up giving final approval of today’s subcommittee action, the effort to move forward on the pilot would end. 

·         The action today did not address and does not impact the fingerprinting and background checks requirements of IHSS workers (providers) that was  passed as part of the 2009-2010 State Budget last July.  Those requirements went into effect on November 1^st and is underway now.

$41.6 million less for homecare client harassment

The state Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services has blocked the Governator's latest attempt at harassing homecare consumers (clients). This now frees up $41.6 million that would have been used to intimidate and potentially eliminate a large number of worthy clients from the In Home Supportive Services (IHSS/homecare) system. Will this money  instead be allocated to supporting the program instead of destroying? You all know my answer.

My half-day in court

Warning: Brief occurrences of what some would call harsh language are shown below.

Update: Check out Elsa' comment below. I'm not the only one who had been threatened by Mark.

Long time readers of the Red Revolt will remember the pitiful rally the Zombies put on back in December in front of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital as proof of the Zombies endless love for the workers (a love that was almost completely unknown to the workers and definitely not reciprocated). That 50-ish minute rally was such a bore. Luckily for me that evening had a brief moment of mild excitement. While writing the blog entry about the rally I was recieved a phone call from gravely voiced Mark Nelson (below, right). He called that night and stated that I was "a bitch", "an asshole" and he was "going to kill you and your wife if I ever see you again". This is in all likelihood a hollow threat...but a threat is a threat and I need to take whatever protective measures I can to protect my wife, my stuff and me, provided they are within the confines of the law. Working within the confines of the law...it's just the NUHW way!

*   *   *

From my own experience Mark is human megaphone and from the credible sources I've spoken to he is a world class union bully. He does as he is told without understanding, hesitation or any perception of the irony of member-on-member threats or violence. Division among the members is ok with him as long as he gets union staff approval. There will probably always be some bad blood between Zombie UHW supporters and NUHW supporters, especially those that are still represented by UHW. I have always tried to not fight against my homecare members, no matter how much their willing ignorance and blind obedience proves the need for enlightenment. Instead I educate my peers them by speaking in calms tones (as opposed to this witch), listening, and gently working into the conversation the Zombies own plans for world domination at the expense of it's dues paying members. Specifically I tell them, with supporting documentation that can be independently verified, UHW's publicly stated plans for dividing long term care workers (homecare and nursing home) from the hospital workers which form the rest of the quickly disintegrating Zombie UHW. Why Zombie SEIU ever thought separating long term care workers and placing us in the low wages for homecare workers local replete with corrupt leadership would ever fly is a mystery to me.

Balancing my need to protect my wife, our lives and things against this loose-cannon Zombie UHW supporter with convictions including 2 misdemeanor DUIs, disturbing the peace and theft, I filed the paperwork for a restraining the day after the December rally. And then I waited, and waited and finally asked what do I do next some time in February. I asked what happened to the paperwork and was told "it takes a while to process". So I waited a while longer and at this time it was the end of March. When I asked this time I finally found a clerk who would explain the restraining order process. Turns out restraining order requests received before 8:30 AM and processed by 2-3 PM the same day or the next business day if received after 8:30.You'd think after filing the paperwork and getting approval to proceed they'd at least call me to let me know I have to come down and take the next steps, but no that's not how they do business. I filed it again on March 31, and it was promptly rejected due to lack of information. I tried one more time: I filled in all the blanks and checked off all the boxes and refiled soon after, this time with an better explanation of the danger Nelson poses to my wife and me and his past criminal convictions. This time it worked and a court date was set.

I was kind of expecting Nelson to not show up to court. I'm not sure if he can drive or has a vehicle. I should have guessed that being a Zombie UHW supporter he'd behave in typical Zombie fashion and hit me with everything he's got, as you will see below. Not only did he supply a packet of mostly irrelevant and outdated paperwork including letters of recommendation and medical descriptions of his nephew's needs and dependency on him, he brought along his own cadre of blindly obedient Zombie supporters include Marie "look at me, I'm the Chicken Lady!" Melchor (below, left), Karen "I'll make a reference to 72 virgins at a Sonoma County Board of Supervisors meeting" Timmons, Bonita "but we're winning against NUHW" Graham, and both last and least impressive of all Zombie UHW field rep Shareefah "Reefah/you're kicked out of my office for life for trying to take a piece of paper that all UHW members have a right to have (explained below)" Joseph. There were a couple of other supporters there but, really, who cares?! Nelson also had his own "legal adviser", I did not. I didn't think I needed one he has a criminal record and phoned in a death threat.

Photo credits: Marie's image is from a frame I pulled out of the Shine a Light video; Nelson is on Flikr. Both the video of her and the photo of him were submitted by the Zombies.

*   *   *

So the trial began with the judge urging us to go onto the hallway outside the court and work out our differences with a court appointed mediator. Short (and boring) story short: we both agreed to stay out of each others for the next 2 years lives unless we are both at a union related function and then to keep 25 feet apart. I can do that, I've been doing it for years. Nelson and I don't run in the same social circles and rarely find any value in what the Zombie staff are saying so this should  not be a problem.

You might ask: "Yeah, so, where's the interesting part come in?!" and I'd say the same. Hold on to your socks folks, and get ready for me to bring on the stupid that is Zombie UHW staff and supporters.

*   *   *

So while waiting for Nelson to read over the mutual stay away order, I read the contents of the packet Nelson wanted to present to the court proving that I am indeed the devil incarnate. It may be a response to my letter explaining our need for protection from Nelson.

As you will note I didn't reveal the name of this mystery woman. I had no idea the Zombies, both Reefah and the member supporters, would attempt to identify her...and miss! At this point it's not really important who she is, suffice it to say she isn't the unanimously misidentified Elsa Stevens.

Here's Reefah's recollection of that evening.

Two questions come to mind:

1. Why wasn't Elsa allowed in? They had a roster to check who had voted so far. If a voter's name is crossed off that member doesn't get a ballot. The very fact they wouldn't allow members to speak out against the contract speaks volumes about the Zombies fear of informed members and NUHW's superior relationship with us, the prisoners of Zombie UHW.
2. What is this nonsense about the seat being "Mark's seat"? Do they view us a kindergartners? Of course they do!

Monica Reeder, another one of the "elite" bargaining team members responsible for our current ticking time bomb contract has some very nice things to say. I'm sure it's all true and Mark is as pure as the driven snow (bleeeeech), but what I find much more interesting is the quality of the writing.Clearly this is the kind of person that should NOT be bargaining labor contracts.

Spelling mistakes, word choice ("gotten"), lack of proofreading and clearly the writing of a grade school student...is it any wonder why the Zombies prefer their supporters to be unquestioning and blindly obedient? Add to this the changing last name of Elsa and the statement that Petaluma is Elsa's "area of voting" and you see there is confusion among even the Zombie followers about who gets to vote and where. Why would Elsa, who lives in Healdsburg be required to vote in Petaluma, 32 miles away? Sounds like voter oppression to me!

Keep in mind this restraining order request was about Mark's death threat phone call, not the rigged election.

(Begin rant)

The ratification vote was spread out across 3 days, one city on each day for 2 hours, (that's 6 hours for 5100+ members, or an average of 14 votes a minute, if we all had been able to show up) in the middle of rush hour. They did this under the guise of greater voter turnout but really they didn't want people to view the contract before voting, and certainly without a consultation from brainwashed bargaining team members before casting a ballot in the rigged vote. Before the trusteeship voting was done by mail, alone and with a copy of the proposed contract in hand so members had the opportunity to make an informed decision. Why would they be so secretive when the are just going to count the votes themselves? Purple paper ballots, without a vote concealing envelope, into a cardboard box...never have I felt like my vote didn't count. When I voted in Petaluma, I did so because the other 2 days I could have voted I had work. Voting  in Santa Rosa, where live would have been more convenient.

(End rant)

Finally is Karen Timmons recollection of Mark blocking members from attending the vote. Karen is convinced that Elsa came to disrupt the voting; knowing Elsa I believe she came to watch and take note of the coercive voting for her own "enlightenment".

Well at least the writing is commensurate with that of an adult but you can tell she is willing to accept the assumption about Elsa's presence and actions that night. Was Elsa at the Library in Healdsburg that night? I don't know or care. Her actions that night have nothing to do with Mark calling me.

How it is that Karen, a woman with a  Masters degree, crossed-over to the dark side? If you ever have the misfortune of meeting Karen you'll know in an instant. Some people are just dieing to drink the Purple Kool-Aid.

So you can see the Zombies are so desperate to oppress the truth with irrelevant claims and mutual assumptions about who did what, we can focus on something real. And this where it become quite interesting.

*   *   *

Shown below is Karen's defense of her part in an email exchange. I'd suggest you go read the email exchange first them come back to her "but he started it" claim below.

 

Karen was working with NUHW supporters until she emailed us stating:

Hi Everyone -

Because of health problems these past few weeks and upcoming personal matters, I will no longer be a member of the Steering Committee or a Steward. Best of luck to us all.

- Karen

It wasn't long before she showed her face with a sickly Purple tinge.

Also, what evidence do you have to prove "____ has a history of going 'where wise men fear to tread' "? Don't you just love the claims of the Zombies that are without merit or substantiation?! Unless I'm mistaken, I think this is nearly every claim made since the trusteeship!

One would think the rigorous training you received for you MA gave you the tools to look at what is going on objectively and make informed decisions. Sadly you are far too eager to turn your back of your fellow homecare workers for the privilege of bargaining an all give away contract.

Next up is Reefah's recounting of one day a long time ago about something that has nothing to do with anything presented in the restraining order request.

If only this statement tried to reflect what really happened that day. Yes, I was at the office, probably asking questions she didn't want to or knew how to answer. While there I saw some fliers advertising the UHW funded bus trip to Sacramento to lobby legislators about not killing funding for homecare.What Marie had in her hand was a copy of a flier with the date and time to get on the bus. I took a copy for myself since I have a lousy memory, and this really angered Marie and Reefah. Earth to Reefah: I'm a union member too! Turns out dues paying UHW members who are even suspected of being NUHW supporters, aren't allowed onto the bus. This was back when the Zombies still kind of cared about fighting for members instead of fighting with members, and Reefah was tolerant of NUHW supporters being in her office. Nevermind that I am a homecare worker just like them, this is a labor law violation and I am one of the few who have the courage and public speaking experience to address the Senate subcommittee. Reefah's M.O. is all about dividing the members according to union preference. Fortunately for me, I never really have to go to the Zombie UHW office, so this lifetime ban for "still"ing a piece of paper my own union printed for my benefit has no real impact on me. Reefah you have my word that, as soon as I figure out what it means to "still", I will never "still" anything, ever!

Next up is Reefah's partner in crime, Marie Melchor, a/k/a the Chicken Lady. I'll transcribe what she wrote since the copy is kind of light and hard to read. Jonathan Nelson is the nephew of Mark Nelson.

STATEMENT OF MARIE MELCHOIR

Dec, 9. 2009

I was at a union event outside [Santa Rosa] Memorial hospital. I am Marie Melchor and I was accompanied by Jonathan Nelson. I was the UHW mascott [sic] so I'm dressed as a UHW Chicken. I gave Jonathan Nelson to Mark Nelson so I could mascott. [Mascot is now a verb!] When we were done parading around on the sidewalk I took Jonathan Nelson with me after Jonathan and I [we?] watched Mark Nelson board the bus Jonathan and I were walking to my car when ____ came running up on us with flashing camera lights. Jonathan started yelling and hitting at the flashing lights. I was hit in the face by Jonathan and given a bloody nose. I yelled at ____ and told him he needed to back off. ____ refused so I said "if you don't back off I'll have to shit on you!" I took Jonathan Nelson back to my car and had him sit in the back seat. He hit the back of my seat violently and was yelling. I let him calm down before I got in and drove him to Petaluma. to where Mark was. I told Mark about what had happened and Mark was upset hearing it. Jonathan went with Mark and I drove home. I was so mad after having a bloody nose and knowing that Jonathan hit Mark that I made a phone call to ____ yelling at him when he picked up the phone telling him "You don't mess with the disabled" in my loud voice. Then I hung up my phone. The phone call to  ----'s house was made on Dec. 10, 2009.

Marie J. Melchor

Sheesh! There's so much to pick apart here, so I'd better get started.

First off, assuming Marie sustained injuries from Jonathan's reactions truly happened did Marie or Mark make a police report? I am suspicious of the date on her letter.

My recollection of that day was I stepped out from behind a bus shelter so I could take a picture of Maire in her Chicken Lady costume. When she asked me not to take a pictures of her I turned off my camera and walked away. There was no violence inducing flashing lights; the flash won't fire during the bright of day! The pair walked back down and then crossed the street without incident A bloody nose shortly after I allegedly took the "flashing lights" picture would have been awesome "smoking gun" evidence to warrant a restraining order or other court action, but I've never been served Why this didn't end up in a Zombie UHW flier speaks to the credibility of Marie's statement.

As for threatening to shit on someone...what finishing school did she go to? A woman who is willing to wear a UHW Chicken costume is quite telling of the kinds of members the Zombies are courting for purposes of "democratically elected" bargaining committees, stewards, etc.They seem to love the phrase "democratically elected _________" so they can assuage the thoughts of doubting members and the media. Also, shouldn't it be an NUHW Chicken costume?

If I were Mark I'd be upset about my nephew's temporary caretaker fabricating such a story. Marie, it's ok to tell - and hear - the truth.

Neither my wife nor I received the phone call she described. However, she had admitted to calling me at my home, so this might be good self-incriminating evidence to have on hand for the future. Heh heh heh, thanks Maire!

As for messing with the disabled, little does she know how long I have been with my wife and for the last 10 years taken her skiing with her disabled friends. Clearly I know nothing about the disabled.

Ok, folks we're almost done. I'm tired of researching, writing and editing this wonderfully lame story.

Finally, here is Mark's description of what he didn't do with a nauseating ending including a jab at NUHW that had nothing to do with anything.

First off is his statement that I didn't suffer emotional distress. Meh, whatever.

____ has not suffered emotional distress because of the accusations he made are false.

(I permantely disabled the caps lock on my computer and I'm not holding down shift while I transcribe; otherwise the transcription is verbatim. Text in bold was added for emphasis.)

Next is his side of the story.

____ assaulted my 23 yr old severely disabled and partially blind nephew and my friend, Maire Melchoir [sic] on Dec 9, 2009 by repeatedly flashing a camera in my nephews eyes 6 or 7 times) despite Ms. Melchoir's pleas to stop because my nephew has a seizure disorder and violent outbursts.) I was not present at that time and Ms. Melchoir called ____ the next day to tell him never to do anything like that again because my nephew had a

[continues on next page]

seizure disorder and a violent outburst that lasted over and hour and resulted in me getting hit, as well as Ms. Melchor right afterwards.

I never called Mr ______ or threatened/him despite what he did.

On Sept 23rd I was working with Monica Reeder, another UHW volunteer like me, greeting members at the doors of the Healdsburg Library when Ms. Else Stevens, the woman referred to in the complaint approached me. I motioned her to the door where union reps Shareefah Joseph and Gustavo Corralo [sic]. Confronted Ms. Stevens because she has already voted the day before in Petaluma on the union contract. After agreeing she has already voted, Ms. Stevens chose to stay and chat with me and Ms. Reeder for over 45 mins. These are not the actions of someone who feels threatened.

____ made false accusations against me, harassed other union members, and misused the justice system to further his NUHW cause.

Funny how his statement is based upon someone else's biased, stand alone statement. All he did was place the call, he had no other part in my complaint. Why didn't he bring his phone bill proving at least he didn't call me from his home or cell phones is beyond me. Proving a negative is difficult at best, but Mark could have tried. He also could have filed a police report or done anything to make his case and protect his nephew from us free thinking freelancing photographers

I have to agree with Mark: these are not the actions of a threatened person, too bad his assumption about who I refered to in the complaint is flat out wrong.

Finally, as for misusing the justice system to "further his NUHW cause", Mark you couldn't be further from the truth. UHW is the reining king of misuse of the legal system for it's own gain. Filing to block an election and then selectively pressing some of those same elections to be schedules is an abuse of the legal system that put my alleged misuse to shame. This is about your thoughtless, knee-jerk, death threat laden phone call. Grow up and leave us alone. If I had a recording of your phone call you would have had a restraining order by the end of last December.

*   *   *

Mark, Marie, Karen and other homecare workers not mentioned here were, at first, NUHW supporters. Mark was so committed to the cause he got, long before the trusteeship, a UHW tattoo. Yeah. Check his arms next time you see him, that is, if you dare get close enough. Unfortunately for them they crossed-over to the dark side and drank copious quantities of Purple Kool-Aid, forming a dependency within days. I think it is unfortunate because they knew what UHW had in mind for homecare workers, knew they were talking to peers who had mutual gain in mind and they knew UHW would say anything to keep it's members from defecting to a much better union. They knew full well what was going and still turned their back on their peers to serve themselves.

My theory about why this group of Zombie supporters so willingly and blindly following their master's lead included 3 likely reasons: they listen to whatever they perceive as an authority and follow that person's lead, especially if that person lavishes the subject with attention; the utter disbelief that UHW has fundamentally changed; and they've heard just Zombie UHW's perspective, and without some other source of information about the struggle for healthcare workers, this is all they believe. Part of why I wrote this very lengthy article was so I could try to tell the whole story and allow the reader to decide what's true and what's fluff. This, more than anything else, is what separate NUHW and its supporters from the Zombies.

I didn't get my restraining order but I did get a whole lot of insight into who makes up the Zombie "leadership" in Sonoma county.

State senate subcommittee meetings May 3 & 5, 2010

I just got this in my inbox last night at 6:20, even so if you can go then by all means do so! Thanks to Marty Omoto for this valuable information. If you want to learn more check out his website www.cdcan.us.

California Budget Crisis:

ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #1 HEARING MAY 3

MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET ISSUES ON AGENDA

CAPI GRANT PROGRAM PROPOSAL TO BE HEARD

Issues to Be Heard Include Updates on Mental Health Services Medicaid Waiver;  Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission; Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Program (EPSDT); Governor’s Proposal to Eliminate State Funded Cash Assistance for Immigrants (CAPI) Program  and California Food Assistance Program To Be Heard – No Action Likely Until Later Hearing in May.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 05/01/2010  04:16  PM  (Pacific Time)] -   The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services will meet next on May 3^rd (Monday) at 1:30 PM in the State Capitol in Room 127 dealing with certain budget issues under the Department of Mental Health including the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and overview of major community based program areas including Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program (EPSDT). 

The subcommittee will also hear three budget proposals by the Governor impacting programs under the Department of Social Services including the proposed elimination of the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) that provides small grants to legal immigrants with disabilities, the blind and seniors who do not qualify for the SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment) program. 

A copy of the 47 page agenda is available for viewing or downloading from the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us

Most Budget Issues on Agenda Will Be Held “Open” Until Later Hearing in May

Like the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services hearing held April 29^th, except for a few non-controversial items, nearly all of the budget subcommittee agenda issues and proposals up for discussion and hearing are either updates (meaning no action) or proposals that will likely be held “open” – meaning no action taken until a later subcommittee hearing in May that is held after the release of the Governor’s May14th budget revisions.  Those budget revisions – referred to as either the “May Revise” or the “May Revision” – will include the latest up to date budget spending and revenue numbers, likely new proposals for spending cuts and other budget changes.

Assembly Budget Subcommittee Membership

The Assembly Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services membership consists of 4 Democrats and 2 Republicans:

Democrats:  Assemblymember Dave Jones (Democrat – Sacramento, 9^th Assembly District);  Jim Beall, Jr (Democrat – San Jose, 24^th Assembly District); Wes Chesbro (Democrat – Eureka, 1^st Assembly District) and Hector De La Torre (Democrat – South Gate, 50^th Assembly District)

Republicans:  Assemblymember Bill Emmerson (Republican – Hemet, 63^rd Assembly District) and Brian Nestande (Republican – Palm Desert, 64^th Assembly District)

May 3^rd Assembly Subcommittee #1 Agenda

The agenda is divided into two sections

·         “Consent Items”, which are those budget issues that have no opposition and are not controversial.  There are 4 items under this section that the subcommittee – unless there is objection from one of the members – will approve in one roll call vote.  There is no public testimony for items in this section.

·         The second section are “Items to Be Heard” which include discussion on the Governor’s proposals, and also updates on various programs and services under the Department of Mental Health that were impacted by reductions as a result of the 2009-2010 State Budget approved in February 2009 and revised in July 2009.

·         Representatives of the two state departments, the Governor’s Department of Finance (DOF) , staff from the non-partisan Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) will be present to provide information or answer questions from the subcommittee. 

·         There will be time for brief public testimony for each item under the second section (“Items to Be Heard”). 

CONSENT ITEMS

Department of Mental Health (Budget Item 4440)

1.      Transfer Traumatic Brain Injury Responsibilities [Note: transfer to Department of Rehabilitation, as required by AB 398 in 2009]

2.      Transfer of San Mateo Pharmacy and Laboratory Services Program

3.      Convert State Counsel Position to Permanent

Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (Budget Item 4140)

1.      Mental Health Loan Assumption Awards Program

ITEMS TO BE HEARD

Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission (Budget Item 4560)

Overall background

1.      Independence of the MHSOAC (Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission)

Department of Mental Health (Budget Item 4440)

1.      Pro-Rata Proposition 63 Administration Reduction

2.      Proposition 63 Fund Shift to Department of Mental Health

3.      Care Giver Resource Centers [Note: update on impact 2009-2010 State budget reduction and additional cut from Governor’s line item veto last July]

4.      Office Patient Rights

5.      Request for Increase in Department of Mental Health Legal Positions

Overview of Department of Mental Health and Discussion of Major Program Areas (Note: includes overviews and status of the Mental Health Services Medicaid Waiver, that was given a 1 year extension due to expire September 1, 2010; State Hospital issues; update on Civil Rights for Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA); Medi-Cal Mental Health Managed Care; overview and update on the Early Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program)

Department of Social Services (Budget Item 5180)

1.      Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) [Note: Governor is proposing elimination of this program – subcommittee staff is recommending that this proposal be held “open” – meaning no action taken – until a subcommittee hearing that is held after the release of the Governor’s budget revisions that are scheduled to be released on May 14^th]

2.      California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)  [Note: Governor is proposing to eliminate this program that serves over 37,000 legal immigrants.  Like the CAPI proposal, subcommittee staff is recommending that this item be held “open” until after the May 14^th  release of the Governor’s budget revisions. 

3.      Recent Noncitizen Entrants Program [Note: Governor is proposing to eliminate this program that serves over 24,000 persons.  Like the CAPI and CFAP proposals, the subcommittee staff is recommending holding this item “open” until after the May 14^th release of the Governor’s budget revisions.]

Assembly Subcommittee Will Also Meet May 5th

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services will also hold a second hearing in the coming week covering In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment grants) and developmental services including proposed closure of Lanterman Developmental Center, on May 5, Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 PM, at the State Capitol in Room 444.  The May 5^th Assembly subcommittee portion of the agenda dealing  developmental services will cover the following:

·         Budget Change Proposal: Requesting Additional Resources to Increase Federal Funds Participation (this corresponds with April 29^th Senate Budget Subcommittee agenda item #4, in Part 2)

·         Update on 2009-10 Budget Reductions  (this corresponds to the April 29^th Senate Budget Subcommittee agenda item #1)

·         Deficiency Funding Request  (this corresponds to the April 29^th Senate Budget Subcommittee agenda item #3 dealing with transportation)  [Note: “Deficiency” refers to when a department goes over its approved budget and the Governor is requesting State general funds to cover it. The request has to be approved by the Legislature] 

·         $25 million Savings Target Plan  (corresponds with April 29^th Senate Budget Subcommittee agenda item #2, Part 2, which the Senate Budget Subcommittee held “open” until after the May 14^th release of the Governor’s budget revisions)

·         Update on Agnews Developmental Center Closure   (this was not part of the April 29^th Senate Budget Subcommittee Agenda)

·         April 1 Finance Letter – Lanterman Developmental Center Closure Plan (corresponds with April 29^th Senate Budget Subcommittee Agenda, Part 1. The Senate Budget Subcommittee held the issue of closure “open” delaying action until another hearing that will be held after the May 14^th release of the Governor’s budget revisions – but did approve several initial draft budget related language that deal with health and safety, employee, health clinic issues that relate to closure)

[note: “Finance Letter” refers to a notice or letter from the Governor’s Department of Finance to the Legislative budget committees that provides notice of an adjustment or other change in a budget item)

The Weasel Has Landed

Running on the beach indeed. The weasel has just found another place to destroy: Leading Authorities, Inc.
Here's their press release.

My oh my! Well, at least he isn't running for office or otherwise directly involved in government.

Another "blogger" hangs up his spurs

The cranky and difficult to read X Perez Borselli* blog, a pro Zombie UHW pseudo-blogger, has finally ended with a whimper. The relentlessly pro UHW and written largely in ALL CAPS, even this "blogger" has seen the light and realized UHW doesn't even care about most of it's own employees pensions. National officers are taken care of for life, no worries for those folks but as for the staff covered by the various pensions aimed at SEIU local staff they are woefully underfunded. Oh the irony "that the fastest growing union in the Americas" (their claim on nearly every one of their press releases) is suffering from growing pains, and despite the very nature of its existence it is having trouble funding it's own employees pensions.

Here's the article shown above as written by Vincent Vernuccio.

*Borselli: a portmanteau of Borsos and Roselli? Why is it that we native English speaking Americans have to make up words all the time? 1.2+ million words in the language, doubtful any one person knows more than 60,000, yet we constantly make up new words! Just say no to fake words. Require who ever is speaking to you to use any one of our existing words. Grrrrrrr!

"Do over" election called for Local 221

Remember the "do-over" from the playground games of our childhoods? Turns out it work in the adult world too! This is from Red Revolt reader Monty Kroopkin one of the Local 221 reformers. Heh heh heh...love it or shove it SEIU fraudsters! This whole rigged election reminds me of what I used to tell the kids I tutored in math who couldn't be bothered with trying to understand a problem and work it out correctly: do it right the first time so you don't have to do it right the second time!