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-Editorial
In a heartfelt address on the steps of the State Capitol, Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez of the 36th Assembly District urged Governor Gavin Newsom to reverse a proposal that would reduce overtime hours for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers, a move Gonzalez says would devastate thousands of families across California, including his own in a press conference June 10.
The proposed cut would reduce IHSS overtime from 70 to 50 hours per month. For many caregivers, especially those providing 24/7 care to family members with disabilities, the change could mean fewer hours of support and added strain on already exhausted households.
Gonzalez made clear that he opposes the proposal not only as a lawmaker but also as a father and caregiver.
“My son, RJ, has cerebral palsy with spastic quadriplegia. He cannot walk, he cannot speak, he cannot eat without a feeding tube,” Gonzalez said, his voice filled with conviction. “Like so many families across California, we rely on IHSS to give him the care he needs to live safely and with dignity in our home.”
He described the reality of life as a full-time caregiver: “It means hours of lifting, bathing, feeding and monitoring. It means waking up multiple times at night. It means learning to be a nurse, a therapist, an advocate, and still trying to be a parent.”
The lawmaker argued that the proposed budget cut isn’t just a financial measure, it’s a moral one.
“When IHSS steps in to help, it gives families like mine a fighting chance. A chance to rest, a chance to work, a chance to care for our children with dignity, without burning out,” Gonzalez said. “The Governor’s proposal…is a direct blow to families like mine. It means fewer hours of trained care. It means that a parent working full-time as a caregiver may suddenly lose critical hours of paid support and be forced to go it alone.”
His office, Gonzalez said, has been flooded with concerns from families across the state who fear they may soon face an impossible choice: continue providing care with no backup—or place their loved ones in institution.
“That’s not a choice any family should have to make,” he said. “IHSS isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline.”
Gonzalez concluded his speech with a plea to Governor Newsom: “Let’s do the right thing. Let’s protect IHSS. Let’s protect the people who depend on it the most.”
In his May Revision to the state budget, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a controversial cut to California’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of low-income seniors and people with disabilities. The revision seeks to cap overtime and travel compensation for IHSS providers at 50 hours per week, down from the current 66 to 70 hours. The administration estimates the move would save the state more than $700 million in the 2025–26 fiscal year. However, the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from caregivers and disability rights advocates, who warn the cut could severely impact the quality of care and force families into institutional alternatives.
Beyond limiting overtime, the governor’s plan includes eliminating the IHSS Residual Program, which provides continued services during Medi-Cal eligibility disputes, along with removing full-scope IHSS access for undocumented adults over age 19 and reinstating asset tests for Medi-Cal. Combined, these additional rollbacks would save the state nearly $300 million.