Statement from Rep. Barca on massive layoffs at long-term care organization in Slinger
"The governor’s lack of planning and inclusiveness and failure to involve people in important public policy has had devastating consequences for the citizens of our state"
MADISON – Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) released the following statement today after Slinger-based GeminiCares, Inc. announced they are going out of business and laying off their more than 700 employees due to Governor Walker’s dramatic proposed changes to Wisconsin’s long-term care system:
“It’s ironic that after Governor Walker blamed Wisconsin’s lagging jobs record on ‘uncertainty’ surrounding the recall elections that he would knowingly create such uncertainty with our state’s long-term system that will lead to 700 people losing their jobs.
“Unfortunately this kind of news is exactly what can happen in what respected business leader John Torinus called the governor’s ‘government by surprise.’ The governor’s lack of planning and inclusiveness and failure to involve people in important public policy has had devastating consequences for the citizens of our state. Even the governor’s own Health Services Secretary knew nothing about these long-term changes until the budget was introduced.
“Strong long-term care services are vital for maintaining a high quality of life for thousands of seniors and people with disabilities across Wisconsin. Democrats and even some Republicans have called for removing non-fiscal policy items from the budget, but it’s especially important that we remove policy items that can have a negative impact on seniors, people with disabilities and others with fragile health conditions.
“If we don’t remove these harmful long-term care provisions from the budget, we could potentially see many more devastating announcements like we saw with GeminiCares today.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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How can anyone with a conscious do something like this and just walk away. Only one who is uncaring can do something like this. I hope beyond all hope that these kinds of budget items get tossed out of the budget. You just cannot do this to old people and the disabled.