State Budget Update

The state legislature is expected to vote on the Budget Conference
Committee’s version of the budget today. As you may know, the Budget Conference Committee’s plan makes cuts (but not as drastic as the Governor’s plan) but avoids some of the worst cuts by raising revenue. (For a comparison of the Governor’s and the Conference Committee’s plans, go to:  http://bit.ly/ABxNo)

The Conference Committee plan is certain to fail if the bills don’t receive 4 votes from Assembly Republicans (54 votes out of the 80 member Assembly) and at least 2 votes from State Senate Republicans, (out of the 40 member State Senate) assuming all Assembly and Senate Democrats approve the plan, including just declared former Democratic Assemblyman – now independent – Juan Arambula.

Advocates have been working very hard to increase the political pressure on the legislature and Governor to consider revenue increases and to avoid the worst of the cuts. Civil disobedience yesterday in front of the San Francisco state building led to 17 arrests for blocking traffic. The protesters were seniors and people with disabilities who oppose cuts to health care and SSI. Similar protests took place in LA and Sacramento yesterday, and more advocates will converge on the Capitol today.

If you want to advocate for a fair budget, here’s how:

Sign this petition from California Labor Federation:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/stop_corporate_tax_cuts_petition

Contact the Governor’s office and tell him that you want a fair budget. Tell them you support revenue increases as a way to enable some restoration of funding for vital health and human service programs.
http://gov.ca.gov/interact