The news came out a long time ago, it seems, but I only found out Monday in an editorial that appeared in the Washington Examiner. It seems that in Michigan, back when Democrat Jennifer Granholm was Governor, they came up with a scheme to line the pockets of organized labor at the expense of disabled kids!
The Democrats love to say that they are “for the poor and middle-class.” But in Michigan, they are perfectly happy to steal from the poor to enrich organized labor. An example, cited in the Examiner's editorial:
And this is not the only union that has been dealt additional undeserved state money that should have gone to people in need:
Now that's one big reason I'm with the Republicans! (Please read also my post dated March 30, 2011.)
Under Granholm, Michigan classified all parents who care for their own severely disabled children at home as state employees if they use Medicaid funds to do so. The designation did not confer any benefits upon parents, but it did allow the SEIU to garnish union dues from their Medicaid checks. Granholm and the unions thus figured out a way to redirect money that should be going to care for the poor to support union political causes instead.
Michigan's new Republican governor signed a bill this year that would end this practice for good. But the SEIU went to court, temporarily blocking that law from going into effect, and then put a measure on the November ballot that would make the Granholm-era status quo permanent.
Marge Faville, head of SEIU Healthcare Michigan, said at last week's Democratic convention that Republicans want to stop her union from skimming poor kids' Medicaid checks because “unions are effective, we make sure Democrats get [into office] and we're going to make sure Obama gets in.” That, or maybe because Medicaid should pay for poor people's medical expenses, not pad the bank accounts of union bosses like Faville, who made $155,489 last year and has a five-figure expense account.
The Democrats love to say that they are “for the poor and middle-class.” But in Michigan, they are perfectly happy to steal from the poor to enrich organized labor. An example, cited in the Examiner's editorial:
To illustrate the effects of Granholm's policy, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy offered the story of Robert Haynes, a retired police officer. He and his wife care for their two children, who suffer from cerebral palsy and must be fed and wear diapers despite being older than 30. The Hayneses suffer the added indignity of having the SEIU deduct dues money from their Medicaid checks every month. The SEIU raked in $6 million last year on the backs of people like them.
And this is not the only union that has been dealt additional undeserved state money that should have gone to people in need:
While in office, Granholm established an almost identical dues-skimming arrangement that forced independent day care providers (many of whom serve parents who receive day care subsidies) to pay dues to the United Auto Workers union. When the matter came before a court, an attorney for that union was forced to admit that unionization “could be imposed on anyone” if the state decided that the union provided “added value.” So if you don't think it can happen, look to Michigan.
Now that's one big reason I'm with the Republicans! (Please read also my post dated March 30, 2011.)
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