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November 7, 2008
Oppose additional budget cuts!
Dear FCL Supporter,
While last Tuesday’s election brought dramatic change at the federal level, little has changed in California.
The slowing economy has dramatically decreased state revenue collections and has prompted Governor Schwarzenegger to call for a Special Session of the Legislature to deal with an estimated $11 billion budget shortfall.
The Legislature and the governor already cut over $10 billion from vital programs as part of the 2008/2009 budget agreement that was signed into law September 23rd. In addition to making painful cuts, the budget relied heavily on borrowing, accounting gimmickry and some temporary revenue enhancements in exchange for future tax cuts on businesses.
To his credit, Governor Schwarzenegger has backed away from his “no new taxes” stance and told reporters yesterday that “because of this tremendous drop in revenues, it is a now a revenue problem rather than a spending problem.” Then in a seeming act of Orwellian doublethink, the governor proposed billions of dollars in additional spending cuts, including:
- $2.5 billion in new cuts to K-12 public education and community colleges.
- $1.449 billion ($349 million this year/$1.1 billion in 2009-2010) in reductions to low-income seniors, the blind and disabled.
- $1.1 billion ($274 million this year/$847 million in 2009-2010) in cuts to CalWORKS cash assistance grants. Monthly grants for a family of three would fall from $723 to $651.
- $857million ($142 million this year/$715 million in 2009-2010) in new cuts to Medi-Cal, including reducing eligibility (a family of three would need to earn less than $1050 per month to qualify). The governor also proposes the elimination of dental care, optometry, speech therapy and psychological services for adults and eliminating benefits to undocumented immigrants.
- $332 million ($83 million this year/$249 million in 2009-2010) in pay cuts for In-Home Health Service workers.
- $230 million in cuts to local transit agencies.
All in all, the governor’s proposed cuts for the current fiscal year would amount to $4.5 billion. Governor Schwarzenegger has also proposed $4.7 billion in new taxes, including a sales tax increase of 1.5 percent for three years, imposing sales taxes on some services, raising the excise tax on alcoholic beverages by $.05 per drink and a 9.9 percent tax on oil extracted from California.
The governor’s proposed tax increases drew an immediate response from Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines (R-Clovis), who pledged that the Republican caucus will not support any tax increases. Though Democrats appear to have gained at least two legislative seats in Tuesday’s election, Republican votes are needed to approve any revenue increases.
We need your help. Political power follows the path of least resistance. California can ill afford to make further cuts in services to our state’s most vulnerable residents or to reduce our state’s investment in education. We urge our supporters to be a voice for the voiceless in Sacramento and to resist further cuts in services.
TAKE ACTION NOW!!!
Please contact Governor Schwarzenegger and Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines and tell them you oppose disinvesting in education and cutting services to those in need.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 558-3160
Phone: (916) 445-2841
Email: http://gov.ca.gov/interact
Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines
State Capitol
Room 3104
Sacramento, CA 95814-0029
Ph: (916) 319-2029
Fax: (916) 319-2129
Sincerely yours,
Jim Lindburg
Legislative Advocate
Friends Committee on Legislation
717 K St., Suite 500-B
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-3734
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