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Boston's Morning Newsletter
Healey's budget belt-tightening draws pushback from personal care attendants
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
Want to brighten up this dreary Friday? Take a look at all the local restaurants that made the James Beard semifinals (and maybe check to see if any still have reservations open this weekend).
Now, to the news:
PCA pushback: Gov. Maura Healey's new budget proposal includes a mix of new investments and belt-tightening, amid projections of little-to-no tax revenue growth in the coming fiscal year. However, some of the subjects of that belt tightening are speaking out. As WBUR's David Faneuf reports, Healey's plan would keep spending flat for MassHealth's personal care attendant program. And the union that represents PCAs is "very concerned" it will mean cuts to service.
- What is the PCA program? The MassHealth initiative serves about 40,000 disabled or elderly residents who need help with daily tasks, according to Becca Gutman, the vice president for home care for Local 1199 SEIU. The program gives beneficiaries money to hire an attendant — or PCA — to help them with anything from house chores to shopping to transportation.
- How could PCAs be affected? First, the proposed budget aims to control costs by capping the number of hours authorized for meal prep. And second, it would change PCA eligibility for people who get less than 10 hours of services per week, Gutman said.
- What does that mean? Gutman says the changes could end up kicking "thousands" of people out of the program and diminish the quality of care for those who remain. "One of the amazing things about this program is it allows people with disabilities and elders to live with real dignity and independence," she said. "But if you're limiting the number of hours that people have, like the support hours they have to prepare meals, what does that mean in terms of the quality of meals?"
- What's next: Healey's budget still needs State House approval, and Gutman says the union is working with advocacy groups to lobby lawmakers to oppose the PCA changes. "When elder advocates, disability advocates and worker advocates get together, that's when we're able to really resist and make real change," she said.
- Heads up: Healey will be live on Radio Boston today at 11 a.m. to talk more about the budget and answer your questions. Tune in!
Drumroll, please: The Massachusetts Senate unveiled their long-awaited gun bill yesterday. There's a lot to go over, but overall it's pretty similar to the bill the House passed in October. For example, the Senate bill includes measures to crack down on privately made ghost guns, update Massachusetts' assault weapons ban and expand the state's red flag law.
- One big difference: Unlike the House bill, the Senate's bill has the support of local police chiefs. That's because — from its conception — the Senate's proposed ban on carrying guns in government buildings includes a carveout for police (as well as any city or town that votes to opt out). Eric Gillis, the head of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, said they also appreciated the Senate's outreach. "What brought us on board were all the conversations — the ability to collaborate with Senate leadership about how a bill should be crafted [and] what would be effective," Gilles said yesterday.
- Next steps: The Senate plans to debate their bill next Thursday.
Maybe next week: Schools remain closed in Newton for a sixth straight day, as the teachers strike continues. The teachers union could also be in court today at noon, as they face escalating fines for the illegal strike. (The latest fine — which has doubled every day the strike continues — was $200,000.)
PSA: The T is planning to finish a host of Green Line track work this weekend. That includes wrapping up the current downtown closure, as well as repairs to those too-narrow tracks on the Green Line Extension (there will still be shuttles all day Saturday and Sunday). Fingers crossed for that Monday commute!
- Don't let the door hit you on the way out: The MBTA is also reminding subway operators to look out for passengers when closing their doors, after several recent incidents on the Green and Red lines where people's hands, legs and bags got caught. T staff plan to give passengers more reminders, via in-station announcements and signage, too.
P.S.— There's a new public art installation that has got people talking. Where is it? If you think you know, take our Boston News Quiz and see how well your knowledge of this week's stories compares to other WBUR readers!
