MN Budget Shutdown....

[laurasophia]

Huh?

I just joined this forum and have to say that I was appalled to read the posts made by laurasophia and was glad to read some of the responses to her ignorant statements and comments!

Here in CA, I had several months last fall where I watched 3 dcks w/o pay until they got the budget passed. I was paid retroactively and received all of my pay for those months and fortunately got those checks right before my house taxes were due, so I could pay those on time w/o penalty! I would have had a tough time continuing care for these families, if I had been told by the State that I may not ever get that $. This business helps me provide an income for my family to live on and I depend on that $ to pay my bills! As much as I LOVE what I do, I cannot afford to do it for free!!!!

You just stated you did just what these other posters said they would not do: keep taking the assistance-pay children not knowing if you were going to get paid or not. (On behalf of clients such as those, thank you for sticking by your clients and not making their situation any worse!)

And y'all call me a name caller!! Now that you've badgered me and bullied ME, I will slink off this hypocritical forum to yet another meeting on how to realistically deal with the fallout from politicians who don't have their priorities in order any more than most of you.

[jojosmommy]

Mine got posted today as well. I didn't hear anything about no payments for July though. I don't see how Minnesota can do that since it is a federally funded program... Hopefully the powers that be will approve of a budget soon.

I was told that the money is federally backed however the people processing the pmts are state workers so that is where the $ can be delayed. I was also told they can only go back 2 months to pay back what you are owed so lets hope this doesn't last longer than 2 months- in which case you would not be able to get paid back ALL of what the food program owes you.

[Unregistered]

laurasophia

If you want to provide services for free, then by all means, go for it. You have the right to do that if you want, but don't treat the providers in this forum as if they are evil and heartless for not doing the same. It's completely unfair.

People have bills to pay, laurasophia. It's just that simple. We can't all do it for free nor should we have to do it for free for any reason. Nobody should have to justify why they charge for their services and they shouldn't have to take a financial hit because of the MN shutdown. Nobody should ever be forced to work for free!

[DCMom]

Jojosmommy ~ it's a tough spot to be in. When we take families on assistance, I guarantee a government shutdown isn't something we consider. After the 2005 shutdown this subject was brought up as a 'what if' in my network group. After that, I chose to keep a limited number of spots for assisted families. I have two assisted families at the moment and I will to continue to keep them for their co-pay whether or not I get paid back. I feel like it was a commitment that I made to them and it's not their fault that our governor and legislators can't get their heads out of their a$$es and get their jobs done.

That being said,

Laurasophia ~ you paint with a very broad brush. This is a demanding job on a good day and until you have walked a mile in our shoes, you don't know of which you speak. You obviously signed on to this forum with a chip on your shoulder and I suspect you probably have lost your childcare (or your grandkids childcare?) due to the shutdown.

I have done this for 22 years because I love it, not because I am getting wealthy doing it. I'm not poor, but I'm sure not rich! I cannot wait for the day that I 'retire' by watching my future grandchildren, but right now this is my job. It's how I support my family and I have to make decisions based on what is right for them AND my business just like everyone else in the world.

[wdmmom]

Just my own 2 cents w'orth on this one and a little role reversal if you will:

WHAT IF I WAS A MINNESOTA STATE EMPLOYEE??? CAN I JUST CALL UP WELL'S FARGO AND ASK THEM FOR MY MORTGAGE PAYMENT TO DISAPPEAR OR BE FREE?!?!?!

Highly unlikely Wells Fargo is going to pay my mortgage...just as unlikely as providers offering childcare for FREE.

Nothing is FREE in this world...I'm a young'en but even I know that much!

[Unregistered]

Register but logged out because I'm on a shared computer

You just stated you did just what these other posters said they would not do: keep taking the assistance-pay children not knowing if you were going to get paid or not. (On behalf of clients such as those, thank you for sticking by your clients and not making their situation any worse!)

And y'all call me a name caller!! Now that you've badgered me and bullied ME, I will slink off this hypocritical forum to yet another meeting on how to realistically deal with the fallout from politicians who don't have their priorities in order any more than most of you.

I'm not sure WHY you don't understand that daycare providers NEED to be paid. If your company told you thatbthey could not afford your paycheck,would you stillnwork there for free until they sorted it out?

You are advocating for the people who need help,but why would a daycare provider take food from her families mouth or fall behind on her mortgage payment and put her OWN family in jeopardy? That doesn't make sense. People work to get paid...that is common sense.

[nannyde]

I was tempted to put my personal info out here just for you nannyde, but it's just NOT good practice and I encourage you to delete the personal info of yours that you posted on here. If not for your sake, then mine.

Laura,

My personal information has been out here long before you came along. I have a job with daycare.com. I'm a public person already. https://www.daycare.com/nannyde/about-nannyde

I'm NOT buying your excuse not to pony up with WHO you are... WHERE you got your degrees... WHAT your degrees are.... and when did you get them? It's not about online safety when you so boldly throw around how important you are in the child care world.

You DID specifically ask us to tell you who we are. You weren't being facetious. You even threw in "Put your real names out here providers!! Let your clients know how you really feel about them and their assistance status. Bet you won't have to worry about getting paid anymore."

That is VERY specific. You are saying that if we say our real names that we would loose clients so that is why we aren't saying who we are. I told you I don't have state paid clients and am happy to say who I am.

I've been on day care boards since 1998 and I've never asked someone to come forward with their true identity. I've never been asked to do it either... till you came along.

I told YOU who I am now you tell me who you are. I gave you the specific information to check me out... thru my DHS, thru the Iowa Board of Nursing, and thru my college.

You may be fooling some of the posters on here but you are NOT fooling me. I've been at this a long time and if I had a dollar for every provider I have met who throws their degrees around when they can just type or say words but can't seem to come up with them when they are asked to actually SHOW them... I would be RICH.

I can't tell you the number of staff assistants I have interviewed and was told they had a college education and many years of experience but as soon as it was time to show me the proof they disappeared. My friend owns two centers and it happens to her weekly.

I can't tell you the number of parents who are deceived into believing they are hiring someone with education and experience only later to find out they increased the number of years they have cared for kids dramatically and didn't have a SINGLE degree in anything.

So your opinion to me is worth nothing if you aren't willing to back up your claims of education and experience. They are the foundation of your position yet they really don't exist other than your claim from the words you type.

[mom2many]

You just stated you did just what these other posters said they would not do: keep taking the assistance-pay children not knowing if you were going to get paid or not. (On behalf of clients such as those, thank you for sticking by your clients and not making their situation any worse!)

And y'all call me a name caller!! Now that you've badgered me and bullied ME, I will slink off this hypocritical forum to yet another meeting on how to realistically deal with the fallout from politicians who don't have their priorities in order any more than most of you.

It was my understanding that in Minnesota, providers were told in advance that they might NOT recoup the $ during this time...In CA that was NEVER an issue. We were assured our $ would come eventually, we just didn't know when.

As a provider for 25 years, that takes my profession seriously and tries to to make a positive difference in the lives of the children in my care, I was thrilled to discover this forum with the wealth of information and support it offers. I just don't see the need to have such negativity and to eagerly attack others like you are.

[Crystal]

Laura,

Let me ask you, why should the provider be the one to give up income, when she is providing a service and paying out of her pocket for supplies/materials/food/etc. rather than the parent? This would put most providers in a financial bind, requiring borrowing of funds, etc.

Why should it be the provider that makes the sacrifice, rather than the parent, when the parent is the person recivieng the service?Why should the provider have to borrow funding to provide free services, rather than the parent borrowing funding to pay for her child care services?

I understand your passion about this. I really do, as I really FEEL for the parents and children that this impacts. But it also impacts providers, probably in a more significant way.....when a provider loses funding from 3 or 4 families due to the cuts, imagine how much MORE that affects her, than when the parent loses funding for her 1 or 2 children.

Also, you may provide FREE child care, but YOU don't do it for free......you do it for a paycheck, correct? You don't lose anything when the parent loses her subsidy, the organization that you work for does, you still get paid. So, your argument there is worthless.

Anyhow, I am a provider who has and would work with my subsidy recieving clients ( I don't currently have any and haven't for some time, but....)when subsidy is in limbo. I have and would compromise with a parent.....with the parent paying HALF of my fees and then we both got reimbursed when the budget passed. BUT, I had a savings account, so I could afford to that, many providers live paycheck to paycheck, just like their DC families do.

Laurasophia....you wanna call out the California providers here, would you please reply to this California girl's post/questions?

You see, we are posting about it because 1 - we've been there and
2 - we come here to support one another and care about the families and PROVIDERS in MN that this is affecting. That's what this forum is about....networking, providing support, etc.....not making accusations, threatening and trashing other people.

[jen]

You just stated you did just what these other posters said they would not do: keep taking the assistance-pay children not knowing if you were going to get paid or not. (On behalf of clients such as those, thank you for sticking by your clients and not making their situation any worse!)

And y'all call me a name caller!! Now that you've badgered me and bullied ME, I will slink off this hypocritical forum to yet another meeting on how to realistically deal with the fallout from politicians who don't have their priorities in order any more than most of you.

Laura,

I am a Minnesota provider and I'm still waiting for an answer to my post. What is it, exactly, that you are trying to accomplish here?

[Sugar Magnolia]

Laurasophia....you wanna call out the California providers here, would you please reply to this California girl's post/questions?

You see, we are posting about it because 1 - we've been there and
2 - we come here to support one another and care about the families and PROVIDERS in MN that this is affecting. That's what this forum is about....networking, providing support, etc.....not making accusations, threatening and trashing other people.

YES! Right on CRYSYAL! Yes, we ARE allowed to care about people in Minnesota! From the Golden State to the Sunshine State, kind people supporting and helping people, no matter location! I just read a post about a similar problem in Illinois, so these crisises are popping up everywhere. May NONE of the providers in MN, IL, or wherever have to suffer financially because of political shenanigans! May NONE of the parents on assistance lose their jobs, have to take their kids to work, leave their kids with teenage babysitters or siblings because of political shenanigans! So spreading kindness and support to ALL, from CA to FL to Timbucktu! Cuz that's what we DO here! Pray for world peace! Or whirled peas, whichever you prefer!
Ps: I LOVE CALIFORNIA! Shout out to anyone in Big Bear!

[GretasLittleFriends]

It was my understanding that in Minnesota, providers were told in advance that they might NOT recoup the $ during this time...In CA that was NEVER an issue. We were assured our $ would come eventually, we just didn't know when.

As a provider for 25 years, that takes my profession seriously and tries to to make a positive difference in the lives of the children in my care, I was thrilled to discover this forum with the wealth of information and support it offers. I just don't see the need to have such negativity and to eagerly attack others like you are.

It was advanced, but less than a months notice in some cases that we may not be reimbursed... IMO that's not a lot of time to plan a back-up.

[mom2many]

It was advanced, but less than a months notice in some cases that we may not be reimbursed... IMO that's not a lot of time to plan a back-up.

I so agree! I can totally relate and sympathize on how news like this impacts both providers and the families involved in these programs. For years, it was never an issue, but last summer my subsidized parents and I were all scrambling trying to figure out a plan if cutbacks were indeed made. It was stressful and not easy. I get emotionally involved with my dcks and the last thing I wanted was to lose any of them.

[Kaddidle Care]

Fear not. This is my last post.

Yay! Goodbye!

You just stated you did just what these other posters said they would not do: keep taking the assistance-pay children not knowing if you were going to get paid or not. (On behalf of clients such as those, thank you for sticking by your clients and not making their situation any worse!)

And y'all call me a name caller!! Now that you've badgered me and bullied ME, I will slink off this hypocritical forum to yet another meeting on how to realistically deal with the fallout from politicians who don't have their priorities in order any more than most of you.

I thought you said that was your last post? Do I have to call you the ... "L" word? ooooooh! ::

[Sugar Magnolia]

Caucus Video: Debt Negotiations Stalled; A Cautionary Tale From Minnesota
thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com

Grrr I am no good at posting links via blackberry! If you take the time to go to the NY Times website, you can find it there.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/caucus-video-debt-negotiations-stalled-a-cautionary-tale-from-minnesota/