A White House task force on meeting the needs of middle-class families today proposed to spend an additional $102 million to assist caregivers of aging relatives. The initiative includes an extra $52.5 million for respite care--a program enacted by Congress in 2006 but never fully funded.
It is very important that the Obama Administration recognizes that caring for our parents is critical to many middle-class families. But as the task force fact sheet notes, 38 million Americans provide unpaid care to loved ones (other estimates are even higher). So, $102 million comes out to about $3 per family--not exactly a difference maker.
There has been a long history of Washington announcing grand-sounding plans for family caregivers, but never delivering. For instance, the Lifespan Respite Care Act passed four years ago was supposed to provide critical assistance to caregivers. The original law called for spending $71 million this year, but Congress never appropriated anything close to that. In 2009, only $2.3 million was distributed to states.
If the President and Congress follow through on expanding the Lifespan program--a big if--this will help a few families. Better for all of us if Obama works to be sure that bigger long-term care changes survive the health reform debate. For instance, if everyone had some form of long-term care insurance (such as the national government insurance in the CLASS Act) they could spend their daily benefit as they wished, and would not have to rely on underfunded government programs that come and go with the political winds.
Barack Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope," has a appealing title. It has a taste of bravery mixed with confidence. You'll find nothing Pollyanna about that. I would possibly not support every part he tells, but he's our president, and then for me, he inspires belief. That may do more for any nation than any number of backroom deals. Hope gives us energy, and energy sustains us through trying times. Boy, we've had them. I'm from West Texas, and I did not vote for Bush. When McCain ran against Obama, I used to be a citizen of Arizona, but I gave audacious hope a chance. The fight for progress and laying the foundations of prosperity will not be over. I've seen the quips of those who don't believe Obama is capable of doing it. But step back a moment. Would anyone have most of us fail only to tarnish the star of an incumbent for whom they didn't vote? Keeping our priorities straight, let's work together with this president and build our future.
Obama spends my money on illegal Mexicans.