XPost: alt.idiots, alt.california, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh   
   XPost: talk.politics.guns, sac.politics   
   From: yourdime@outlook.com   
      
   California Democrats are racing to reverse a new $25-an-hour healthcare   
   worker minimum wage law going into effect at the end of the week after the   
   governor’s office estimates it would cost the state $4 billion annually.   
      
   The news of the costs isn’t new. In fact, it was projected by legislative   
   analysis and ignored by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), who signed the law in   
   October. Now, as it gets ready to go into effect, lawmakers are looking   
   for ways to delay it.   
      
   California’s budget deficit has grown in years and now stands at a hefty   
   $45 billion.   
      
   Newsom’s office projects the new healthcare minimum wage could set the   
   state back another $4 billion per year thanks to higher Medicaid costs and   
   compensation for workers at state-owned facilities.   
      
   Presently, the state’s minimum wage for all workers is $16 an hour. This   
   Saturday, the wage will be bumped up between $18 and $23, depending on the   
   job and healthcare provider. The way the law is written, nearly all   
   workers in California healthcare facilities, including the janitors and   
   administration staff who work in the buildings, will be making at least   
   $25 an hour by 2028.   
      
   Earlier this year, Newsom also signed legislation that would give fast-   
   food restaurants operating on government property a $20-an-hour fast-food   
   minimum wage.   
      
   Critics claim California’s rush to raise wages is fiscally irresponsible   
   and indicative of how “progressive mandates boomerang.”   
      
   “Democrats shrugged when healthcare providers warned that the wage mandate   
   could force cuts to patient services,” a recent Wall Street Journal   
   editorial read. “Who cares if Californians wait longer before being seen   
   at the ER? But now Democrats worry that the state’s higher health costs   
   could force bigger government spending cuts. Oh no. Californians may have   
   to wait even longer for their bullet train to nowhere.   
      
   “Mr. Newsom is proposing to tie health worker minimum-wage increases to   
   the state’s general fund revenue and to exempt state facilities. But once   
   capital-gains revenue picks up again, California’s private healthcare   
   providers will be stuck paying for the wage mandate, which they will   
   ultimately pass on to patients. Far better to repeal the $25 wage minimum   
   en toto.”   
      
   One group that doesn’t want that to happen is the Service Employees   
   International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, the union that backed   
   the healthcare pay increase. They have recently launched an advertising   
   campaign to try to force Newsom’s hand. One post on X shows a dialysis   
   worker named Alice, whom the union says provided lifesaving care.   
      
   The ad continues: “Yet, with caregivers at her facility starting out at   
   only $18/hr, it’s no wonder there’s a short staffing crisis. A $25/hr   
   minimum wage for healthcare workers will help ensure patients get the care   
   they need.”   
      
   Nathan Selzer, the communications director for SEIU-UHW, an affiliate of   
   SEIU California, which sponsored the law, said union workers “were   
   concerned and remain concerned.”   
      
   “What we saw in conversations earlier this year was folks really focusing   
   only on money and only on dollars and cents, and not on what those dollars   
   and cents are used for,” he told CalMatters. “We made a decision that   
   we’ve got to make sure we’re reminding people why this was made into law   
   to begin with.”   
      
   The law’s author, Democratic state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, has already   
   submitted “urgent” paperwork for legislation that would delay the increase   
   to July 1.   
      
   “SB 525 provided a historic wage increase to more than 450,000 health care   
   workers mainly women and people of color, who take care of us and keep our   
   health care system functioning,” Durazo said in a statement. “It is clear   
   that these workers need this to help support their families and I   
   appreciate health care employers that recognized this and have begun to   
   increase wages. SB 828 moves the start date of the health care minimum   
   wage by one month to July 1, 2024. This aligns SB 525 with the budget year   
   and allows the legislature to continue discussions with the administration   
   and technical changes to ensure health care workers get their raises.”   
      
   Getting the start date pushed back will require a two-thirds vote from the   
   legislature, which lawmakers seem poised to do.   
      
   Calls to Newsom and Durazo for comment were not returned.   
      
   https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/3019564/california-   
   democrats-try-delay-25-hour-pay-bump/   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)