Child Care Providers to Rally at State Capitol Against Propositions 1A & 1D

2101 Webster Street #1850 • Oakland, CA 94612 • 866-336-9333 • www.ccpunited.org 3055 Wilshire Boulevard #1050 • Los Angeles, CA 90010 • 866-574-8907 • www.ccpunited.org
	PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Friday, May 1, 2009			Contact: Joe Wilson, 510-663-3939 o 916-325-7858 c

Child Care Providers to Rally at State Capitol
Against Propositions 1A & 1D
New Poll Finds Registered Voters Support Public Services

SACRAMENTO, CA—Family child care providers, parents, and their supporters will deliver nearly 2,000 signatures from registered voters who have pledged to vote down Propositions 1A and 1D at a noon rally at the state capitol on May 4.

Invited state legislators include Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano and Tom Torklakson and Senator Denise Ducheny.

“Propositions 1A and 1D will have long-term consequences for California's working families,” said Margie Stokes of San Francisco, a member of Child Care Providers United (CCPUnited) of California, which organized the rally. “These measures make temporary budget cuts permanent and shift voter-approved revenues away from much-needed local programs for families with young children.”

The action by CCPUnited follows a new field poll, which has found that a majority of registered voters support state funding for public education, health care, and subsidized child care.

This news comes about three weeks ahead of California’s May 19 special election, in which voters will be asked to decide on six ballot measures dealing with the state’s budget deficit.

Of the six measures on the May 19 ballot, Proposition 1A is the most controversial, for it would create a permanent revenue shortage by locking in state spending at unrealistic levels and empower the governor to make unilateral budget decisions.

“This is scary stuff,” said Joe Wilson of the American Federation of State, County, & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), another event organizer. “Too much power in one person's hands is anti-democratic.”

Proposition 1D would divert another $1 billion from early childhood development programs to balance the state budget.

“Once these funds are taken, our kids won't get them back,” said CCPUnited member Nancy Wyatt of Los Angeles. “This kind of ballot-box bait and switch shortchanges our children and prolongs the economic woes working class communities already face. Enough is enough.”

With offices in California and Pennsylvania, CCPUnited is a union formed by child care providers for child care providers that advocates for early education and quality care for all families who work for a living.

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Lobby Day 2009 in Sacramento

This year, activities surrounding Child Care Providers United (CCPUnited) of California's annual lobby day will commence on Sunday, May 3, and last throughout Monday, May 4.

On that day, legislative visits will take place between 10:00 to 16:00 at the state capitol.

In addition to conducting legislative visits, CCPUnited has arranged for providers to meet with staff from the California Department of Education (CDE), which is responsible for setting the state's regional market rates (RMRs) for child care providers with families whose children are eligible for subsidized child care through the state.

Providers will have an opportunity to raise their concerns and engage in dialogue with public officials on the issues that matter most to them.

Last year, about 400 providers from around the state journeyed to Sacramento to make their voices heard.

Thanks in part to these efforts, we were able to turn aside several harmful budget cuts that Arnold Schwarzenegger had penciled in for last year's state budget.  You can read more about that below.

Nationally, more than 250,000 family child care providers have joined the labor movement, and with the election of Barack Obama as President, child care and early education are increasingly seen as critical to economic recovery, school readiness, and success for America's youngest children.

CCPUnited's annual Lobby Day for family child care features skills training, leadership development, and face-to-face meetings with lawmakers.

Experienced providers mentor newer ones, and everyone has an opportunity to meet with at least two legislators or their staff.

Sign up for CCPUnited's 2009 lobby day today!

Contact your area organizer or peer advocate.

You can also get in touch with us using the following information:

Child Care Providers United of Northern California 2101 Webster Street #1850 Oakland, CA 94612 1-866-336-9333 510-663-3933 fax ca@ccpunited.org

Child Care Providers United of Southern California 3055 Wilshire Boulevard #1050 Los Angeles, CA 90010 1-866-574-8907 213-381-7348 fax ca@ccpunited.org