SACRAMENTO  -  Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health & Human Services today (April 11)  voted 5-0 (with member not voting) to firmly reject the Governor's proposal to freeze the State's level of funding for In-Home Supportive Service (IHSS) worker wages and benefits at the level it was as of January 10, 2007.  The vote came after several hundred people with disabilities, IHSS workers, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and United Domestic Workers union representatives, and other disability and senior advocates packed the Assembly hearing room, with dozens testifying in opposition and about the impact of the Governor's proposal that they said would freeze worker wages and result in loss of workers, services and rights.

Stunning Rejection of Schwarzenegger Administration's Budget Proposal
The vote on the HISS budget issue  was a stunning rejection of Schwarzenegger Administration because  neither of the subcommittee's two Republicans - both conservatives -  voted to support the Governor's plan.  The subcommittee's four Democrats, and one conservative Republican member, Assembly member John Benoit (Republican - Riverside, 64th District) voted to reject the Governor's proposal. The remaining Republican, Assembly member Bill Maze (Republican - Visalia, 34th District)  voted to abstain as he wanted to keep the issue open until the Governor submits revisions in May to his proposed budget for 2007-2008 - but even Maze, a conservative Republican, expressed reservations about the Governor's proposal.

• REPORT: Impact of Proposed Budget Freeze on IHSS Workers
  
  
• But I Take Care of A Family Member. How Does This Union Have Anything to Do With Me?
  
  
• Fresno homecare workers: archives of struggle