EDITORIAL: Nursing home folks deserve pay raise

May 04--Fortunately, Herman's Friske's whiskers grow slowly. Otherwise, he'd probably look like Rip Van Winkle by now.

Friske, 91, hasn't shaved in three years. He set his razor aside to protest the state's refusal to increase the $50 personal needs allowance for nursing home residents on Medicaid. They haven't had a raise since 1981.

It's high time they get one.

Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, D-Utica, thinks they deserve it. He's been pushing for an increase, but says the budget is pretty lean this year.

In the past, both Brindisi and state Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, have sponsored legislation to increase the state share of supplemental security benefits and the personal needs allowances for low-income individuals residing in adult care facilities. Their bills would have raised the personal allowance to $75 per month.

Griffo and his Senate colleagues have routinely pushed for a raise. Unfortunately, states an email from Griffo's office, the governor has routinely balked at the opportunity to increase this allowance in budget negotiations.

Similarly, the release continued, though the senator has supported legislation advocating for an increase to the personal needs allowance, the governor has regularly demonstrated that he is unwilling to sign legislation that has a fiscal impact on the state outside of the normal budget process.

Brindisi, meanwhile, believes a raise for seniors would be a good investment.

He's right. Try limiting yourself to $50 worth of "luxuries" a month. Personal needs include everything from toiletries and greeting cards to postage stamps and chewing gum. And don't forget haircuts, occasional gifts for loved ones, clothing and maybe some reading material, like newspapers and magazines. After all, senior citizens do still read.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, you'd need at least $134.65 today to buy what $50 bought in 1981. That's a difference of $84.65 over 36 years. More than double.

The state budget might be what some consider tight, but like the tightwad who always manages to find money for what he or she wants, Albany lawmakers -- led by the governor -- seem to find all kinds of money for pet projects to help them get re-elected. We wonder how many employees at the Capitol have had pay increases since 1981.

We suspect that if the nursing home crowd had a lobbyist in Albany representing a huge bloc of voters a monthly personal needs allowance increase would be imminent. Maybe the old folks should unionize and send a vocal representative to the Capitol.

Maybe one with a big bushy beard.

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