Union: Taxpayers are supporting welfare for state workers, who deserve a living wage
AUSTIN — Texas taxpayers are footing the bill to support welfare programs for thousands of state workers and their children, a union representing the employees said Monday, urging lawmakers to raise wages.
"A lot of these employees would make more money working for the local fast-food chain than they could caring for our most vulnerable populations," said Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin.
More than 6,000 state employees are on food stamps, and some 30,000 of their children qualify for Medicaid or other public health programs, according to data from the Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas State Employees Union said.
That costs Texas taxpayers $119 million per year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2017/01/23/union-taxpayers-supporting-welfare-state-workers-deserve-living-wage
