First… janesvillecomments must not have read what they posted. Looking at their link, it appears most of what SEIU contributed in the Governor’s race was to his opponent Kathleen Falk. In comparison it looks like they didn’t support him nearly as much. And if we are going to look so deeply into what unions contribute in politics, maybe we should look at the resources by the anti-union lobby. I think we’d find their pockets are much deeper.

Second I have family who receive home health care, and I have heard about this registry being created. It is ridiculous that you are using a right wind ideologue such as Charlie Sykes as a legitimate news source. The point of the WQHCA is to create a registry that is optional for home care consumers that allows people to easily find pre-screened, trained people to take care of them in their home. Currently we are left to ourselves to post ads in the newspaper and it is extremely difficult to find care. This saves Wisconsin money as it will allow more people to stay in their own home rather than being placed in a costly institution.

I know, it’s budget time and it brings out partisan spin, but don’t politicize care for the elderly and disabled. That should be too low… even for Charlie Sykes.

"$5 million investment in workforce training to prepare state workers and business in the future economy". Uh huh. As if the state gubmint knows what the future economy will be. Another costly, feel-good, idea. And is it THREE MILLION, or almost SIX MILLION? Or 5 million? Obviously the state has too much money laying around.

The SEIU (Service Employees International Union) District 1199/Quality Professionals for Healthcare gave a totally unrelated campaign contribution to Governor Doyle:
http://www.wisdc.org/ind02interests.php
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I'd guess the Governor is planning on ruining..., er, I mean running for another term.

BLOW THE WHISTLE ON THIS ONE! He is sneaking this past us, what he is trying to do is pay back the unions for all the money they contributed to his campaign. He already did that once, sacrificing our kids' education, now he's sticking it to the elderly! What a slime ball!
The way he wants it, if you get aid, you have to use their employees. They have all the rights of union workers. If they want more pay, strike. If they don't want to do something, talk to my representative. Look how well the unions did for GM.
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO MAKING YOUR OWN DECISIONS?

By Charlie Sykes

Story Created: Mar 4, 2009

Governor Doyle and the unions target the home care industry.

Gov. Doyle is proposing to create a registry of home care providers who would have collective bargaining rights.

Anyone who receives any state assistance for health care and who contracts for home care would be required to hire a provider from this registry. We hear that SEIU is interested in becoming the representative for this new union.

I am copying a section of the analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau regarding this provision:

The bill creates the Wisconsin Quality Home Care Authority (WQHCA), which is a public body corporate and politic created by state law, but which is not a state agency. A majority of members of the WQHCA board of directors must represent the interests of recipients of home care services. The WQHCA is subject to requirements such as state purchasing requirements, lobbying laws, and the code of ethics for public officials. The WQHCA is exempt from state employment requirements, and its employees are excluded from the state retirement system. The bill requires the WQHCA to establish and maintain a registry of providers; provide referrals to individuals seeking home care services; determine the eligibility of providers for placement on the registry; develop a recruitment program for providers; operate a backup provider system with a 24−hour per day call service; conduct activities to improve the supply and quality of home care providers; and perform other tasks.

This bill provides home care providers collective bargaining rights under state law in a manner similar to that provided state employees under the State Employment Labor Relations Act (SELRA). The collective bargaining unit is structured as one statewide unit and DHS acts as the state employer.

Under current law, some MA waiver programs and other programs provide a benefit for personal care services. This bill requires that an adult who 1) hires an individual home care provider other than an agency, county, or independent living center employee or a health care provider; 2) is a resident of a county that agrees to abide by certain requirements or that offers certain programs; and 3) is a recipient of a home care benefit through the Family Care Program, an MA waiver program, a self−directed supports option program, an amendment to the state medical assistance plan, or the Program of All−Inclusive Care for the Elderly, must comply with certain requirements with regard to the hiring of the home care provider. The requirements include hiring only a provider eligible for inclusion on a registry maintained by the WQHCA and compensating providers in accordance with any state collective bargaining agreement pertaining to home care providers.
http://www.620wtmj.com/shows/charliesyke...

Is Wile E Coyote going to be the engineer? Almost fitting.

New flash! A $2,000,000 contract has been awarded to the Acme Railroad Car Construction Training Corp. to train workers to build high-speed rail cars. In a totally unrelated story, the ARCCTC donated $50,000 to the Committee to Re-Elect Doyle for Governor.