You just can not make these things up. The Washington Examiner has unearthed an insane story that shows just how far labor unions, like the SEIU, are willing to go to ensure their pockets are full and political force remain intact. Thanks to Democrats in Michigan since 2006, labor union SEIU receives $30 every month from disabled families who live at the poverty level and receive Medicaid for their adult children who are mentally disabled–in the tune of $6 million dollars annually.
According to the report:
The state government provides the family with insurance through Medicaid, but also treats them as caregivers. For the SEIU, this makes them public employees and thus members of the union, which receives $30 out of the family’s monthly Medicaid subsidy. The Michigan Quality Community Care Council (MQC3) deducts union dues on behalf of SEIU.
Michigan Department of Community Health Director Olga Dazzo explained the process in to her members of her staff. “MQC3 basically runs the program for SEIU and passes the union dues from the state to the union,” she wrote in an email obtained by the Mackinac Center. Initiated in 2006 under then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm, D-Mich., the plan reportedly provides the SEIU with $6 million annually in union dues deducted from those Medicaid subsidies.
According to the Mackinac Center, the theoretical public employer for whom the Haynes’ work is the Michigan Quality Community Care Council (MQC3), an entity within the DCH that continues to operate, even though the state legislature has defunded it. Even the MQC3 calls the families hiring in-home health care providers “employers of providers,” but these health care providers are also treated as employers of MQC3 when it comes time each month to take dues out of their Medicaid payment and send it to the SEIU.
In my humble but accurate opinion…
As a mother of a disabled child, who happens to also be his primary care taker, I can not even begin to fathom the thinking behind this story. This is truly appalling and just one more example of how labor unions, like the SEIU, have gained too much political influence among Democrat politicians. Not to mention the liberty taken from these families who have no choice in the matter.
Whether you support unions or not, think this one through using common sense:
Mentally disabled adults receiving Medicaid meet eligibility requirements that place that at or below the poverty level.
Many mentally disabled adults receive care from family members, because they can not afford the hefty cost of outside, third party care.
Mentally disabled adults tend to have significant higher costs of living associated with health care, home care and basic living needs.
So, because their parents happen to be primary care givers–these impoverished individuals are forced to have their monthly Medicaid budget reduced by $30, by no choice of their own and ultimately no support, assistance provided by the union receiving an annual amount of $6 million dollars?
- $30 could buy food required for a special diet, monthly.
- $30 could provide necessary monthly medical transportation.
- $30 could provide necessary adult diapers for a week or two.
Instead of providing for the needs of mentally disabled adults, $30 stolen from them to provide money to a political group who grosses millions every year.
Seems fitting from a state hit most hard by liberal policies.
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