LA Times: California has paid scores of criminals to care for residents

Los Angeles Times ^ | September 24, 2010 | By Evan Halper

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Sacramento — Scores of people convicted of crimes such as rape, elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon are permitted to care for some of California's most vulnerable residents as part of the government's home health aide program.

State and county investigators have not reported many whose backgrounds include violent crimes because the rules of the program, as interpreted by a judge earlier this year, permit felons to work as home care aides. Thousands of current workers have had no background checks.

Advocates and unions note that nearly half of the 400,000 employees of the In Home Supportive Services program are caring for their own relatives.

A spokesman for the Service Employees International Union, which represents most of the state's home healthcare workers, referred questions to Wilkins. SEIU is consistently one of the biggest donors to the Democrats who dominate the Legislature, contributing millions of dollars to political committees that the state Democratic Party and its leaders use to win legislative seats, register voters and even fund lawmaker retreats.

[GeronL]

Government and common sense have never met

[ExTexasRedhead]

More proof of what corrupt RAT political hacks and Union thugs and goons do best.

[jazminerose]

Don’t worry—Jerry Brown is AG. I’m sure he’ll get right on it . . .

Oh wait. He’s owned by SEIU.

[GailA]

Maxine's Solution to Senior Health Care

Under the "Obama Care" Program

So you're a senior citizen and the government says no health care for you, what do you do? Our plan gives anyone 65 years or older a gun and 4 bullets.

You are allowed to shoot 2 senators and 2 representatives. Of Course, this means you will be sent to prison where you will get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head, and all the health care you need! New teeth, no problem. Need glasses, great. New hip, knees, kidney, lungs, heart? All covered. (And your kids can come and visit you as often as they do now).

And who will be paying for all of this? The same government that just told you that you are too old for health care.

Plus, because you are a prisoner, you don't have to pay any income taxes anymore.

[George from New England]

I’m surprised the writer of Maxine hasn’t been visited by the feds and arrested for inciting violence.

But of course she would point out that in prison we the taxpayer will pay for her crayons and her first amendments right will allow her to continue her comic work, all without income taxes.

[ScottinVA]

Damn, that state is a mess...

I thank God I moved from there long ago.

[olezip]

Sacramento — Scores of people convicted of crimes such as rape, elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon are permitted to care for some of California's most vulnerable residents as part of the government's home health aide program.

It appears that California's budget process lacks common sense and certainly lacks fiscal responsibility. They give money as though thieves have broken into the treasury and are mindlessly doling out the dough. If we run out just raise taxes says the governor. If we need more money Washington will bail us out, no worries.

[GOPJ]

When abuse happens in a nursing home, the police should be called - not some state investigator. These things need to be treated as criminal matters...

[San Jacinto]

nearly half of the 400,000 employees of the In Home Supportive Services program are caring for their own relatives.

So CA taxpayers are paying 200,000 people to take care of their own relatives. Then they pay rapists, burglars, and other slackers to 'care' for old people. Gee, I just have no idea where CA would ever find any wasted $$$$ to cut.

Then you have health care and college tuition for illegals, public employees retiring at $250K per year, etc. etc.

No wonder they have budget problems. I guess the best plan is to collect $$$$$$ from the other states to pay these 'necessities'.

[Vaduz]

And the progressives see nothing wrong with it,in California brain death occurs early.

[GeronL]

I remember a scam in MN or something where women were babysitting each others kids and getting paid by the state.

They were friends and had a kid and decided to “babysit” each others’ kid for government money. lol.