Sacramento, CA -- The California State Council of the Service Employees International Union released the following statement from Executive Director Courtni Pugh:
 
"When California families needed a courageous solution to the state budget mess, the Governor and Legislature shrunk from the challenge.
 
"Rather than have the courage to raise revenue from oil companies, which have been swimming in record profits in recent years, our leaders cut education funds for our students. Rather than raising taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products, our leaders took money from seniors and people with disabilities.

"Rather than liquor tax increases, our leaders stripped tens of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities of the care that keeps them out of costly nursing homes.

 "As California confronts severe budget difficulties in coming months, middle-class families will continue to challenge state leaders to provide a common sense, balanced approach--even when it requires that our leaders have the courage to stand up to powerful corporate interests.

 "SEIU members, whose hard work and activism helped prevent even worse cuts to home care, CalWORKs, healthcare, education, and higher education, won’t give up our broadly shared vision of California as a state that invests in its people."