V4CF is indeed a nonpartisan organization. That said, this note from California Democratic Party chair John Burton describes how California's budget cuts will hurt education and healthcare in our state -- two of President Obama's stated priorities for 2009 -- all while while preserving tax breaks for oil and tobacco companies. As he states in his letter, "That's just wrong."
Here is his letter, which includes his invitation to take action:
In the coming weeks, our state legislators will face stark choices about our state budget – choices that will touch the lives of nearly all Californians.
If our legislators do as Governor Schwarzenegger asks, California will slash billions from public schools and community colleges, eliminate health care for nearly two million people (half of them children), end the grants that allow high-achieving middle-class and poor students to attend college and close more than 200 of our state parks. AIDS patients will be denied medicine. Domestic violence shelters will lose funding.
What the governor's budget doesn't do is ask big corporations, oil and tobacco companies or the very wealthy to share in the sacrifice. That's just wrong. As our lawmakers make critical budget decisions to fill the shortfall, we must tell them what's important to California's residents and the future of our state.
The current budget year ends June 30, so we may only have a week or two to make a difference. Please take a minute right now to send a message to your legislators about the budget -- before it's too late. Tell them that we must have a budget that includes new revenue to pay for the services we all need.
As Democrats, we stand firmly against the severity of the proposed cuts. We will do everything possible to minimize the cuts and the harm they will inflict. That's why we're urging legislators to Protect All Californians by passing a balanced, sensible budget that includes new revenue.
Our budget ought to reflect our values – but right now, it doesn't. California has tremendous oil reserves, yet the governor isn't asking oil companies to pay the same extraction fees imposed in other states. Corporations reap billions from tax loopholes that are left intact. And the wealthiest Californians aren't asked to pitch in more – in fact, the most affluent Californians currently pay a lower income tax rate than they did when Republican Pete Wilson was governor.
Adding revenue from any of those sources would help minimize some of the devastating cuts looming for education and social services. Yet some in the legislature so far would rather protect a few elite special interests instead of millions of average Californians. We must help them see the error of their ways!
The only way to ensure our elected representatives make the right choices is to speak up now and to keep speaking out until the budget has been passed.
Please take a moment to send a letter to your legislators asking them to pass a budget that will Protect All Californians, not just the privileged few. We will continue to give you ways to stay involved in the budget battle in the days and weeks to come.
Please join me in standing up for our values and fighting to Protect All Californians.
Peace and friendship,
John Burton
P.S. The budget fight is upon us and the cuts proposed by the governor would devastate millions of poor and middle-class Californians – and affect us all. If you believe as I do that California must find a balanced budget solution that includes new revenues, please take a minute to send that message to your legislators today. Go to www.cadem.org/ltl-budget.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Defend the public option: Tell Senators
you oppose 'co-op' healthcare plans
From our friends at MoveOn.org comes this:
President Obama has spoken forcefully about the need for a public health insurance option that would lower costs and keep the insurance companies honest.
But the Washington Post is reporting that a new health care proposal may be gaining support in the Senate that could defeat his plan.
The proposal would create a series of small, regional "co-op" insurance plans that would be too weak to really compete with private insurers and bring down prices. And these "co-op" plans would mostly be privately run, so they wouldn't be accountable to voters or Congress. A "co-op" is not an acceptable substitute for a strong public health insurance option.
Would you call Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein today? Tell them: Voters wants a strong, national public health insurance option. Please oppose the "co-op" proposal and other half-measures. And after you've called, please let MoveOn.org know that you've called.
Here's where to call:
Senator Barbara Boxer
Phone: 202-224-3553
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Phone: 202-224-3841
We need a strong public health insurance plan that has the size and strength to reduce overhead, negotiate lower costs for drugs and treatments, and compete with national private health insurance plans. Small, regional co-op plans just won't cut it on their own.
President Obama has spoken forcefully about the need for a public health insurance option that would lower costs and keep the insurance companies honest.
But the Washington Post is reporting that a new health care proposal may be gaining support in the Senate that could defeat his plan.
The proposal would create a series of small, regional "co-op" insurance plans that would be too weak to really compete with private insurers and bring down prices. And these "co-op" plans would mostly be privately run, so they wouldn't be accountable to voters or Congress. A "co-op" is not an acceptable substitute for a strong public health insurance option.
Would you call Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein today? Tell them: Voters wants a strong, national public health insurance option. Please oppose the "co-op" proposal and other half-measures. And after you've called, please let MoveOn.org know that you've called.
Here's where to call:
Senator Barbara Boxer
Phone: 202-224-3553
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Phone: 202-224-3841
We need a strong public health insurance plan that has the size and strength to reduce overhead, negotiate lower costs for drugs and treatments, and compete with national private health insurance plans. Small, regional co-op plans just won't cut it on their own.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
President Obama's weekly address:
Healthcare reform as the key to our fiscal future
From our friends at Whitehouse.gov:
President Obama has long noted that skyrocketing health care costs will be disastrous in terms of our long-term national debt unless we pass real reform. In his weekly address, the President explains how he will cover the upfront costs of reform by eliminating overpayments from Medicaid and Medicare and driving down costs contributing to government’s healthcare expenditures across the board. He also provides a fact sheet laying out the details of these savings.
If you cannot see the viewscreen above, the President's weekly address is available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j12NRuH4gM.
President Obama has long noted that skyrocketing health care costs will be disastrous in terms of our long-term national debt unless we pass real reform. In his weekly address, the President explains how he will cover the upfront costs of reform by eliminating overpayments from Medicaid and Medicare and driving down costs contributing to government’s healthcare expenditures across the board. He also provides a fact sheet laying out the details of these savings.
If you cannot see the viewscreen above, the President's weekly address is available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j12NRuH4gM.
'Intersection rally' against oil-company tax breaks happening Wednesday
Unhappy about California's coming budget cuts? Check out this invitation from member Connie Peterson:
The state budget should be a serious concern to any Californian. Governor Schwarzenegger is proposing ridiculous cuts to almost every program on the books, and is quoted recently in the Los Angeles Times as being willing to bring the State down.
His approach to "helping" California is costing millions of jobs and services we all need, while also making cuts that result in a loss of Federal matching funds, which add up to even more lost revenue for our economy. What some may not know is he's continuing to give an average of $2.2 billion dollars a year in tax breaks to some of the largest corporations in the country, including Chevron.
California needs that money! And it's time to show the Governor we won't stand for his budget proposal. With that in mind, there will be an Intersection Rally beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, outside the Chevron station at First and Shaw in Fresno.
Speak up for the millions who will be devastated by this budget, including students, the elderly, and children. Come after work, hold a sign, pass out fliers, oppose the tax breaks!
Thanks for the information, Connie. Want to participate? Contact Connie Peterson via e-mail.
The state budget should be a serious concern to any Californian. Governor Schwarzenegger is proposing ridiculous cuts to almost every program on the books, and is quoted recently in the Los Angeles Times as being willing to bring the State down.
His approach to "helping" California is costing millions of jobs and services we all need, while also making cuts that result in a loss of Federal matching funds, which add up to even more lost revenue for our economy. What some may not know is he's continuing to give an average of $2.2 billion dollars a year in tax breaks to some of the largest corporations in the country, including Chevron.
California needs that money! And it's time to show the Governor we won't stand for his budget proposal. With that in mind, there will be an Intersection Rally beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, outside the Chevron station at First and Shaw in Fresno.
Speak up for the millions who will be devastated by this budget, including students, the elderly, and children. Come after work, hold a sign, pass out fliers, oppose the tax breaks!
Thanks for the information, Connie. Want to participate? Contact Connie Peterson via e-mail.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Members get fired up about healthcare reform at V4CF's June meeting
With healthcare reform sure to be a contentious topic over the coming months, it's important that Volunteers For Change-Fresno participates fully in that debate.
We began that process by sharing our thoughts about the current state of healthcare -- as well as what some of our members would like to see come out of the healthcare-reform process -- at our most recent meeting, held June 9 at the Fig Garden Library. Here are some of the views our members shared:
If you cannot see the viewscreen above, the video is also available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUEFw7boXXU.
Also at the meeting, members heard Linda Leu of Health Access present information about both the process and the proposals for national healthcare reform. Linda's presentation covered President Obama's principles for transforming and modernizing America's healthcare system, and included information about two of the proposals currently competing for support within the U.S. Congress.
Linda's presentation highlighted the importance of keeping a "public option" included in healthcare reform, something that will be fought vehemently by the health insurance companies opposing reform. She also supplied a handout describing the elements of Sen. Edward Kennedy's healthcare reform proposal.
Securing healthcare reform and universal coverage for all Americans is sure to be a challenge. But the time is now, and Volunteers For Change-Fresno stands ready to help in the fight for meaningful reform that fulfills President Obama's promise.
Stay tuned to this Action Blog for more information on how you can help.
We began that process by sharing our thoughts about the current state of healthcare -- as well as what some of our members would like to see come out of the healthcare-reform process -- at our most recent meeting, held June 9 at the Fig Garden Library. Here are some of the views our members shared:
If you cannot see the viewscreen above, the video is also available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUEFw7boXXU.
Also at the meeting, members heard Linda Leu of Health Access present information about both the process and the proposals for national healthcare reform. Linda's presentation covered President Obama's principles for transforming and modernizing America's healthcare system, and included information about two of the proposals currently competing for support within the U.S. Congress.
Linda's presentation highlighted the importance of keeping a "public option" included in healthcare reform, something that will be fought vehemently by the health insurance companies opposing reform. She also supplied a handout describing the elements of Sen. Edward Kennedy's healthcare reform proposal.
Securing healthcare reform and universal coverage for all Americans is sure to be a challenge. But the time is now, and Volunteers For Change-Fresno stands ready to help in the fight for meaningful reform that fulfills President Obama's promise.
Stay tuned to this Action Blog for more information on how you can help.
California budget cuts: Are there alternatives?
From our member Connie Peterson comes this:
The proposed cuts to vital social service programs are nothing short of draconian, and there are reasonable alternatives to further attacking the least among us. This information is from http://fixthebudgetnow.org.
According to two recent polls (found here and here), many Californians support some revenue increases and do not favor drastic cuts to education and other essential services. According to the polls:
Connie, thanks for the information!
The proposed cuts to vital social service programs are nothing short of draconian, and there are reasonable alternatives to further attacking the least among us. This information is from http://fixthebudgetnow.org.
According to two recent polls (found here and here), many Californians support some revenue increases and do not favor drastic cuts to education and other essential services. According to the polls:
- 74 percent of California voters support increasing tobacco taxes on tobacco.
- 73 percent of California voters support an oil extraction tax on oil companies that every other oil producing state has.
- 63 percent of California voters support closing the tax loophole that allows corporations to avoid reassessment of newly purchased property.
- 63 percent of California support raising the state income tax for top earners (10 percent for individuals earning more than $272,000 a year, and 11 percent for individuals earning more than $544,000 a year.
- 59 percent of California voters support prohibiting corporations from offsetting more than fifty percent of their taxes through tax credits.
Connie, thanks for the information!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
President Obama's weekly address:
Healthcare reform requires fundamental change
From our friends at Whitehouse.gov:
In his weekly address, President Obama makes clear that as Congress works through healthcare reform legislation, it must include fundamental changes that lower costs, ensure Americans have choices, and establish access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. "But what we can’t welcome," the President says, "is reform that just invests more money in the status quo – reform that throws good money after bad habits."
If you cannot see the viewscreen above, you can watch the video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g18BZnMgCY.
In his weekly address, President Obama makes clear that as Congress works through healthcare reform legislation, it must include fundamental changes that lower costs, ensure Americans have choices, and establish access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. "But what we can’t welcome," the President says, "is reform that just invests more money in the status quo – reform that throws good money after bad habits."
If you cannot see the viewscreen above, you can watch the video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g18BZnMgCY.
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