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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Oregon Home Care Workers Take a Stand

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Monday, November 21, 2011   

PORTLAND, Ore. - Hundreds of Oregon home-care workers are gathering across the state today to rally against lost wages and the potential loss of their health-care coverage.

The hours of home-care workers will be reduced by 5 percent as of Jan. 1, which is expected to save the state more than $4 million. At the same time, efforts are under way to increase the number of hours they must work to qualify for health insurance - from 80 to 130 hours a month.

Kim Stanfield says the cuts are not only putting her life in jeopardy, but also that of her elderly and disabled clients.

"If I'm not here, things could happen to them. They could fall, they could get hurt, things that wouldn't happen if I have my whole hours. So, it would impact me a great deal with me not having insurance, because not having insurance is a very scary thought."

The Oregon Department of Human Services has notified its clients that their home care will be reduced between four to nine hours per month. Stanfield expects it will make a big difference in the quality of care she can provide.

"That may not seem like a lot to some people, but it is a lot to somebody who needs that care. You have to fit a lot of things in the short period of time for your clients: make sure they have their meals, make sure they have their laundry done, their house is clean, their bathing."

A recent state survey found that Oregon home-care workers qualify for public assistance at a higher rate than any other group except those employed at Walmart.

Home care provider Pam Walsh already has been struggling to work the 80 hours required to receive health care and doesn't know what she'll do if that increases to 130 hours.

"People that have heart problems and liver problems and kidney problems - we're putting our lives in danger. Why do our clients have to be in danger too as far as not being able to have us there when they need us?"

The noontime rallies, organized by the Service Employees International Union, are to take place in Portland, Salem, Medford, Bend, Eugene, Pendleton and Coos Bay. More information is online at seiu503.org.


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