Missouri Proposition B (2008)

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The Missouri Proposition B appeared on the November 4, 2008 ballot as an initiated state statute, where it was approved. The Statutory Amendment to the Revised Statues of Missouri Relating to Home Care (2008-025) amended Missouri law to establish the Missouri Quality Homecare Council. The Quality Homecare Council ensures the availability of home care services to the elderly under the Medicaid program by recruiting, training, and stabilizing the home care workforce. The annual cost of the program has been estimated at $510,560.[1],[2]

2008 election results

These election results are based on the Missouri Elections Division as of Nov. 6, 2008.[3]

Proposition B
Yes or no Votes Percentage
Approved Yes 2,074,914 75.3%
No 682,348 24.7%
Total votes 2,757,262 100%

Supporters

The initiative was sponsored by Alphonso Mayfield and Missourians for Quality Home Care (MQHC).

These groups were backed by the Service Employees International Union. Part of the ballot measure allows home-care workers to unionize, although it does ban strikes.[4]

Kristina Wilfore of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, a national organization that advocates for liberal ballot measures, has written that "progressives should feel good" about the initiative.[5]

Donors

Campaign consultants

Campaign consultants hired by MQHC include:

  • CSI for collecting petition signatures: $543,717.[7],
  • Jobs with Justice, $15,000 for "petition support".[8]

Arguments in favor

Notable arguments made in support of the measure included:

  • The 11-member council that would be created if Proposition B passes would include at least six people with disabilities.
  • The council would recruit more people to the field;
  • It would help people with disabilities stay in their homes;
  • It would lead to better pay and benefits for home health assistants.[9]

Opponents

Arguments against

Notable arguments made in opposition of the measure included:

  • Proposition B would place additional requirements on home care service providers operating under the Medicaid program.
  • It has an estimated cost greater than $510,000 annually for state governmental agencies.
  • Critics say this measure could increase overall health care costs.[10]
  • State programs such as the Missouri Consumer Directed Services Program are already in place to help people stay in their homes.
  • The effort is mainly about growing the ranks of SEIU, its main financial backer.

Outcome

In April 2009, after a push by the SEIU and other unions to organize the affected health care workers, the Missouri Legislature declined funding for the newly formed council. [11]

Criticism

Regarding Proposition B, the Associated Press reported,"The ballot summary shown to voters said nothing about making it easier for in-home care providers to unionize." In 2009 home health workers paid for by Medicaid are on the verge to unionize, which some say will increase Medicaid costs.[12]

See also

External links

Additional reading

References

  1. ↑ Biggest primary winner? Gambling interests
  2. ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Four groups make deadline to file initiative petitions," May 5, 2008
  3. ↑ Missouri Elections Division, 2008 Election Results
  4. ↑ UPDATE: Home-care group seek voter approval of ballot measure, St. Louis Today, Jan. 17, 2008
  5. ↑ Huffington Post,"Ballot Initiatives in 2008: Change Vs. More of the Same," June 12, 2008
  6. ↑ Follow the Money
  7. ↑ FOR QUALITY HOME CARE Expenditure details
  8. ↑ FOR QUALITY HOME CARE Campaign expenditure detail
  9. ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Proposition B targets home health care"
  10. ↑ National Taxpayers Union
  11. ↑ bnd.com, "Analysis: Mo. unions seek to organize in-home care", April 12, 2009
  12. ↑ Wall Street Journal,"Why Obama Bombed on Health Care," October 1, 2009
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2008 ballot measures in Missouri
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