SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
March 16, 2017
Sullivan’s
Salvos 3/21/17
In this edition:
*Picking on the Poor
*GOP Attack on Local Control
*”Our” Road
*Family Vacation
*Did You Know?
*Picking on the Poor
Talk
about sleeping with the enemy... the Iowa Association of Community Providers is
fighting to lower the minimum wages in Polk, Linn, Johnson, and Wapello
Counties.
The
IACP includes human services agencies that serve people with mental illnesses
and intellectual disabilities. Johnson County has often fought side by side
with them when it comes to greater funding for services.
In
fairness to these providers, Medicaid caps how much they are paid. It is tough
to raise wages without a corresponding increase in income. We have spoken about
this at length. I spent several hours with local providers before the first
Johnson County increase went into effect. We still have the Business Manager
from Systems Unlimited on our Minimum Wage Advisory Committee. More
importantly, Johnson County actively argues for greater Medicaid reimbursement
for provider agencies.
But
despite our decades-long record of working with these agencies, they chose to
help the GOP maintain lower wages. Instead of working with the progressive
counties that had always had their backs, the providers sided with their good
friend Branstad. (Yes, he of Medicaid privatization.)
This
is what is truly amazing. Governor Branstad has NEVER been a friend to these
agencies. That was never clearer than when he chose to privatize Medicaid. But
there was IACP, at his side in the fight for lower wages. It is a sell-out of
epic proportions!
I
spoke to Executive Director Shelly Chandler, and she confirmed that they oppose
HF295. (Which also disallows protections for people with disabilities in local
human rights ordinances!) The IACP is in a race to the bottom. While counties
have fought for higher wages for people who provide this important care, the
IACP has chosen to sleep with the enemy.
Management
(in this case, those represented by the IACP) always tries to convince working
people that the enemy is the person earning slightly more than you. The real
enemy is organizations that use Medicaid money to pay lobbyists to advocate for
lower wages for the people who serve our most vulnerable citizens!
Think
about this for just a moment. The people served by IACP members are our
brothers and sisters. Do we really want the people caring for them to be paid
$7.25? It is shameful! IACP has chosen to use our brothers and sisters as pawns
in a play against their caretakers. Unbelievable!
I
hope SEIU, the Teamsters, and others look at IACP members as targets for future
union organizing campaigns. Their employees should be ripe, knowing that
management has conspired to keep statewide wages low.
Shelly
– there is a special place in hell for those who would pit the very poorest among
us (Medicaid recipients) against those who earn poverty-level wages caring for
them. I have no words to describe how vile your stance is on this issue.
My
advice to agencies that are members of the Iowa Association of Community
Providers? Drop your memberships. You are on the wrong side of this argument,
and the wrong side of history.
*GOP Attack on Local Control
Ankeny State Senator Jack
Whitver, writing in the Des Moines Register: “Senate Republicans want to make
sure Iowa’s state and local governments have the tools necessary to provide
services while executing their responsibilities effectively and efficiently for
the Iowa taxpayer. It is imperative we are always looking at ways to make the
public sector more nimble, economically sound and responsive to the needs of
Iowans throughout the state.”
What a load of crap! If
Whitver REALLY wanted us to have “tools” and be “nimble”, there is NO WAY he
would support HF295, which guts local control.
There are plenty
of lies being told by Republicans in the Iowa Legislature, but this statement
is so mendacious that it deserves to be called out separately for being such a
bold lie.
HF295
not only removes our minimum wage legislation, but also our Human Rights
Ordinance! This is shameful, cruel, and petty.
*”Our” Road
I
grew up on a farm, way out in the country, on a gravel road. And I still refer
to that gravel road as, “our” road. Why wouldn’t I? That road was the only way
out, and the only way home. It was our personal lifeline. It was “our” road.
In
reality, however, the road I grew up on was not “our” road; it belonged to all
the people of the County. Almost every road in Johnson County is publically
owned, and therefore the property of all of us.
Even
though almost every road is a public good, the people who live on certain roads
assume an extra level of ownership. Oftentimes, this can result in unrealistic
expectations.
For
example, I sometimes get calls asking me to, “Keep those outsiders off our
road.” Sorry, but that is not how it works with public roadways. Any driver can
travel the road, any time she pleases.
I get it; I have done the exact same thing my whole life. But we
need to remember – the road belongs to ALL of us.
*Family Vacation
With
state and federal politics going to hell, we all need family now more than
ever. That has been particularly hard for me as of late, as two of my kids have
moved far away.
That
is why Spring Break this past week was wonderful! We drove to Memphis to pick
up our daughter Jordan, who works with at-risk children in the Memphis area.
Then
we continued on to Disney World in Orlando, where our son BJ works. We took
full advantage of his connections, and had a great time staying and playing at
the parks. Honestly, I am not much into that type of stuff. But it was just so
good to see BJ in his element!
So,
the vacation was great! Both kids live in fun and exciting places, and are
doing things they enjoy. They are responsible young adults. I am immensely
proud of both of them.
But I have to be honest – I would give up absolutely anything just
to have them closer. Yes, I know it is selfish. I am just being honest here.
*DID YOU KNOW? Disney
World is larger than Manhattan! Yet Walt Disney purchased the 48
square miles of Florida swampland now home to Disney World for just $5 million
dollars.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
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come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
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As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 4:50 PM
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