- Schwarzenegger’s budget is a blow to the poor, By Shane Goldmacher, May 15, 2010, Los Angeles Times: “Proposing a budget that would eliminate the state’s welfare-to-work program and most child care for the poor, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday outlined a stark vision of a California that would sharply limit aid to some of its poorest and neediest citizens. His $83.4-billion plan would also freeze funding for local schools, further cut state workers’ pay and take away 60% of state money for local mental health programs. State parks and higher education are among the few areas the governor’s proposal would spare. The proposal, which would not raise taxes, also relies on $3.4 billion in help from Washington — roughly half of what the governor sought earlier this year — to help close a budget gap now estimated at $19.1 billion. Billions more would be saved through accounting moves and fund shifts…”
- Schwarzenegger calls for cutting welfare-to-work, other programs in bleak California budget, By Steven Harmon, May 15, 2010, San Jose Mercury News: “Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday rolled out a blueprint for grim work this spring, calling on lawmakers to repair a $19.1 billion hole in the state budget largely by gutting safety net programs. Democrats insisted they will fight the most devastating proposals, such as eliminating the state’s welfare-to-work program, slashing in-home care for the disabled and elderly and cutting millions from the state’s insurance program for low-income children and pregnant women…”
Day: May 17, 2010
State Children’s Health Insurance Program – Arizona
KidsCare enrollment shrinking since signups frozen, By Ginger Rough, May 15, 2010, Arizona Republic: “The number of children participating in Arizona’s health-insurance program for working families has dropped dramatically since the state stopped allowing new enrollments in January, according to newly released figures. From Jan. 1 to May 1, enrollments in the KidsCare program plunged more than 26 percent, from 45,820 to 33,708. Much of the drop is due to normal attrition – from kids who age out of the program at 19 and parents who fail to make enrollment payments, don’t fill out paperwork or lose a job and thus eligibility. But some is because the state froze enrollment at the end of 2009. There are now more than 40,000 applicants on a waiting list for coverage…”
Minimum Wage – Australia
- Rudd government backs pay rise for 1.4m low-paid workers, By Ewin Hannan, May 18, 2010, The Australian: “Canberra is backing an above-inflation wage rise this year for the nation’s 1.4 million low-paid workers, prompting employers to warn they will be forced to shed jobs and cut hours if the position is backed by the wages umpire. As unions renewed their push for a $27-a-week increase in the minimum wage, the government said increases in minimum wages could allow low-paid workers to share in the benefits of economic growth, while ensuring jobs growth continued. Appearing before Fair Work Australia’s minimum wage panel, government advocate John Kovacic said the pay of low-income workers had ‘gone backwards’ as a result of last year’s minimum wage freeze…”
- Most sides support a rise in minimum wage after freeze, By Kirsty Needham, May 18, 2010, Sydney Morning Herald: “Eric Abetz, the opposition’s workplace spokesman, has joined the federal government and unions in supporting a rise in the minimum wage to make up for last year’s freeze. Unions and business groups are appearing this week before the Fair Work Australia tribunal, which will decide the first minimum wage case since taking over from the Howard-era Fair Pay Commission. Mr Abetz said yesterday there was a strong case for a catch-up rise, the line also being pushed by the Australian Council of Trade Unions. ‘Australian workers took to the task of assisting us through the global financial crisis. Now that we’re coming through I think it makes sense to have a catch-up,’ he said…”