Republicans Reject Democrats' Budget Fix

The budget plan proposed by our allies in the state assembly and senate has failed to garner the two-thirds majority vote needed to pass the legislature.

All the Republicans in both chambers voted NO on the budget plan advanced by Democrats this past Wednesday, June 24.

Now, Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to cut child welfare and foster care services and end state contributions to state employee health plans.

This is on top of the devastating cuts he previously proposed including the elimination of CalWorks and Healthy Families.

Time is running out, and providers—especially those living in Republican districts—need to urge their legislators to support a budget proposal that invests in our future.

Please call and write your legislators:

• Tell them that you are a registered voter and don't want to see the budget balanced on the backs of our children and seniors.

• Tell them to end the $2.5 billion worth of wasteful tax breaks that have been given to big business.

• Tell them that polls show a majority of California voters support taxes on oil companies and alcohol and tobacco producers.

• Tell them that polls show a majority of voters oppose cuts to public services.

If you live in a Republican district, tell them:

• You are a registered voter and will vote them out of office, unless they vote YES on the Democrats' current budget proposal.

• Tell them to voteYES on the Democrats' current budget proposal when the vote is held again.

Click here to find the legislator in your district.

CCPUnited's parent organizations (AFSCME& SEIU) will also be conducting various protests and rallies throughout the state to pressure lawmakers to do the right thing.

If you are interested in participating in these upcoming events, call 1-866-336-9333 or 1-866-574-8907.

Click here for a list of upcoming events.

Remember to keep those cards, letters, and phone calls coming.

AFSCME Proposes Alternative Budget & Calls for Bold Leadership in State Budget Saga

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has identified $44 billion worth of recurring revenues that can be used to balance the 2009-2010 budget and all budgets annually thereafter. These long-term solutions would obviate further cuts to the public service programs that polls show a majority of California voters support, putting California on sound financial footing by eliminating the state’s structural budget deficit. Click here to download AFSCME's alternative budget proposal. Then read more about it below. 

1121 L Street, suite 904 • Sacramento, CA 95814 • (916) 441-1570 • www.calafscme.org
	PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 28, 2009			Contact: Willie Pelote, 916-441-1570 o 916-873-6384 c

AFSCME Proposes Alternative Budget & Calls for Bold Leadership in State Budget Saga
Advances Long-Term Solutions that are Fair to all Californians

SACRAMENTO, CA—The American Federation of State & County Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has identified $44 billion worth of recurring revenues that can be used to balance the 2009-2010 budget and all budgets annually thereafter. These long-term solutions would obviate further cuts to the public service programs that polls show a majority of California voters support, putting California on sound financial footing by eliminating the state’s structural budget deficit.

The recommendations were delivered to state legislators on Wednesday and consist of a combination of measures including the imposition of an oil severance tax, an alcohol tax, the closure of existing corporate tax loopholes, an extension of a reduced sales tax to services such as entertainment and sporting events, the ending of offshore tax havens used by multinational corporations, and the restoration of high-income tax brackets to their levels under Republican Governors Reagan and Wilson.

Many of the proposals put forward by AFSCME were previously advanced by Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislators last year but abandoned during the negotiations that produced the 2009 budget.

“This isn't a game or an academic exercise. Real lives are at stake here,” said AFSCME Assistant Political Director Willie Pelote. “The legislature has a clear choice. They can continue the failed policies of the past and destroy programs that all Californians including our children, working families, the elderly, and the disabled rely on, or they can back AFSCME’s common sense budget solutions that put the citizens of this state first. If the governor and legislature would just exercise some political leadership and listen to the voters, instead of the special interest lobbyists, California could be on course for a sustainable and equitable future for years to come.”

AFSCME has asked state legislators to indicate their support or opposition to the package of revenue solutions it has proposed.

“California families are at a breaking point,” said Doug Moore, executive director of United Domestic Workers of America (UDWA), AFSCME’s largest California affiliate. “If the legislature chickens out again and concedes to all the slash and burn cuts that Schwarzenegger is proposing, California will become just another Third World country where only the rich and politically connected are afforded a decent education and opportunities for a high quality of life.”

AFSCME is prepared to work with the legislature to identify additional solutions and is encouraging legislators to conduct town hall meetings and budget hearings at the county level in order to allow all Californians to participate in decisions that will advance the Golden State into the future.

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Update on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 2:50PM by Admin

KPFA Radio interviewed AFSCME about its proposal to balance the state budget on Monday, June 8, 2009. 

Click here to download the audio.

We Did It! Obama Stimulus Plan Passes!

With the help of thousands of AFSCME members across the country calling, faxing and e-mailing their members of Congress, we got more than $200 billion in new assistance to state and local governments.

Thanks to members like you, we now have an economic recovery plan that includes substantial fiscal relief to state and local governments. President Obama will sign this bill into law today.

Thousands of AFSCME members across the nation helped get this bill passed with phone calls, emails and faxes to your members of Congress. AFSCME International President Gerald McEntee has a special video message for all of you who took action: you can view it here.

Click to read more ...

Child Care Providers Form Exciting New Union

Family child care providers across California are celebrating a historic part­nership with the American Federation of State & County Municipal Em­ployees (AFSCME) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to build a new union for child care providers led by child care providers.

Child Care Providers United of California (CCPU-CA) is the official name of this exciting new union. Formerly known as the United Child Care Union (UCCU) and affiliated with AFSCME’s National Union of Hos­pital Health Care Employees (NUHHCE) and SEIU’s Kids First, CCPU-CA and its sister union Child Care Providers United of Pennsylvania (CCPU-PA) are part of a nationwide movement of family child care providers and the labor movement to win respect, recognition, and justice. The historic union may soon include nearly 125,000 family child care provid­ers in Pennsylvania and California.

Click to read more ...