Bass to Republicans: It's time to work together

Forum calls on Republicans to sign budget remedy immediately

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Assemblymember Warren Furutani hosted a packed-house town hall forum at Cal State University - Dominguez Hills Tuesday night, calling on Republican legislators to step up and sign the budget Democrats have proposed.

On the 29 day without a budget, the leaders called the meeting to give community members a chance to ask questions and make statements on budget-related issues. Democrats have proposed a budget that calls for increased revenues through closing tax loopholes, while Republicans have refused to take any steps that they say will raise taxes.

SEIU Healthcare, United Long-Term Care Workers' Union members turned out for the hearing, three of which spoke against the proposed cuts to IHSS.
"As homecare workers, we keep our seniors and people with disabilities from having to go into more expensive nursing homes," said Johnny Williams, a homecare worker from Long Beach. "But the Governor wants to cut our pay and the hours our recipients receive. That's just not fair."

"I ask the republicans," Williams continued, "what would they want if suddenly they needed special care? Would you want someone to take care of you at home, or be sent to an institution?"

Another Long Beach homecare worker, Lorijon Brown, told the audience that because of the way the system is set up she only gets paid for a fraction of the care she provides her brother, Larry, who lives with her.

"To the Governor, I ask you, what do you not want me to do? Feed my brother? Pay my bills? What?" she said.

However, Speaker Bass said that some progress to stop these horrible cuts is taking place. She said legislative Republicans have agreed that the budget cannot be balanced on cuts alone.

"Now is the time to fight for the revenue we need in the state of California!"

Assemblyman Warren Furutani called on audience members to flood their legislators with phone calls, e-mails and letters asking them to sign the budget the Democrats have proposed.

"We can come together and overcome this," said Rob Robbins, a ULTCW homecare worker and Executive Board member. "People staying in their homes is one of the best values there is in California, and we won't let it be thrown by the wayside."