Democrats Never Learn

For a good summary of what happened during this latest round of budget negotiations in California, what happened in the past, and what needs to happen in the future, click here now.

Schwarzenegger Threatens to Shut Down the State

Democrats in the California state assembly employed a series of legal maneuvers to push through a proposal to balance the state's $24 billion budget deficit without any Republican votes over the weekend.

The plan, which includes $11 billion worth of cuts and $10 billion worth of accounting maneuvers, is now in the state senate.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has threatened to veto the plan on principle, should it reach his desk, because it contains $2 billion worth of revenue solutions consisting of an oil severance tax and a tax on cigarettes, measures that Schwarzenegger himself had previously proposed.

If Schwarzenegger believes that it is possible to balance the state budget without these revenue solutions, as paltry as they are, then he just doesn't understand economics.

Should he actually follow through on his threat to veto the Democratic plan, blame for shutting down the state would rest squarely on his shoulders.

While Schwarzenegger has been prone to using threats, coercion, and other ham-fisted approaches to realize the vision of a state with no capacity to provide social or educational services to the citizens of California, it is unclear whether he actually has the courage to take the blame for shutting down the state.

With California just a few days away from having to issue IOUs to pay its bills, the only way to win this game of budget chicken and avert the prospect of California taking its place among the Third World, an outcome that corporatists like Schwarzenegger and the Republicans have been planning for decades, is for Democrats to concede nothing and place a budget on Schwarzenegger's desk that includes new revenues.

This will put Schwarzenegger into a position where he will either have to make good on his threats or look like a complete hypocrite. If past performance is any indication, he will find an excuse to sign it.

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.

Republicans: California's for the Rich! Poor People Get Out Now!

Updated on Friday, May 29, 2009 at 2:10PM by Admin

California Republican State Assemblymember Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine) airs his views."When you have an unemployment rate as high as it is in this state, it should be a signal to people to look for jobs in other states with more jobs and a lower cost of living. . . We have had policies subsidizing poverty in this state for years, and we can't keep doing that."

This statement from California Republican State Assemblymember Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine) pretty much sums up the Republican political philosophy in a nutshell.

That's why alternative budget proposals like the one recently put out by the American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) warrant serious consideration.

Click to read more ...

California Legislature Passes Flawed State Budget

After more than four months of stalling, three state Republicans finally broke ranks with their obstructionist colleagues to help pass a new state budget this morning. Although the deal purports to close the state's projected $42 billion budget deficit through a combination of new revenue measures and spending cuts, voters will still be asked to approve a ballot measure this June authorizing the state to borrow an additional $5.4 billion against future lottery revenues to balance the budget.

Click to read more ...