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July 27, 2007
Senate Republicans Propose More Budget Cuts
Dear FCL Supporter,
It's crunch time in Sacramento, and we need to enlist your help on behalf of those who have no voice in Sacramento.
In order to end the budget stalemate, Senate President pro Tem, Don Perata, told Senate Republicans to put forth their own budget proposal.
Well, they did, and their plan, announced 25 days after the constitutional deadline for passing the state's budget, revives a previously rejected proposal advanced by Governor Schwarzenegger to remove 200,000 children from CalWORKS whose parents are not meeting work requirements. CalWORKS is California's version of the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANF).
CalWORKS is the safety net for our state's most vulnerable children. In 1997, the federal government enacted stiff "work-first" requirements. Parents who are not meeting work requirements are cut off receiving cash assistance, but in California we have recognized that children should not be penalized for their parents' behavior and have continued to fund children. Moreover, many of the parents who are not meeting TANF's stringent work requirements face significant barriers to entering the workforce.
Senate Republicans have also proposed to eliminate all funding for Proposition 36 drug treatment. California voters passed Proposition 36 in 2000 by a 61 percent to 39 percent margin to provide drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration. A recent evaluation by UCLA concluded that for every dollar invested in Proposition 36, the state saves $2.50, and that funding should be increased to $209 million per year to realize the full benefits of Proposition 36.
While the Senate debates these items, the Assembly adjourned for the legislative recess after passing a budget that gives tax breaks to corporations while delaying cost-of-living-adjustments to low-income seniors, the blind and disabled, eliminates teacher tax credits, and raids $1 billion from local transit agencies.
FCL believes that society, including government at every level, must provide all its residents in need with appropriate human services. Please contact Senator Perata and your State Senator and urge them to reject these cuts and to eliminate these tax breaks for corporations.
Faxes, phone calls and e-mails should be addressed to:
Senate President pro Tem Don Perata
State Capitol
Room 205
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4009
Fax: (916) 327-1997
E-mail: Senator.Perata@sen.ca.gov
To find out who your State Senator is:
1) Click here.
2) Click the "Your Senator Link" and insert your address
3) Consult the FCL Roster or contact FCL for your State Senator's Contact information
Sincerely,
Jim Lindburg
Legislative Advocate
http://www.fclca.org
E-mail: JimL@fclca.org
Phone: (916) 443-3734
Fax: (916) 448-6109
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