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California Budget: Time for Real Solutions

California Budget

Conference Committee Approves Responsible, Compromise Budget

On July 9, the Conference Committee of the legislature passed a budget that includes both substantial cuts and substantial new revenues. The budget is painful but avoids the deeper and more damaging cuts proposed by the Governor, restoring 2.5 billion to education and 1.8 billion to health and human services.  Read SEIU’s reaction and the California Budget Project’s side-by-side chart comparing the Conference Committee’s budget to other proposals.
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SEIU 2008 Issue Priorities

Public Sector
 Budget.SEIU Members Lobby for DDFor all of our public sector members, from developmental disabilities workers to classified school employees to parks employees, ensuring that California doesn’t throw away its future and destroy what we’ve worked so hard to build as a state by slashing vital programs is the top priority.


Childcare Organizing.SB 867  (Cedillo and DeLeon) would allow family childcare providers to join together in a union and fight for better working conditions and benefits. A similar bill was vetoed last year. 



Temporary Workers.
SEIU Members from Locals 521, 721 and 1021 attended Joint Legislative Audit Committee hearing in support of AB 1496.
Temporary Workers at Capitol AB 1496  (Swanson), our “Justice Can’t Be Temporary” campaign, protects workers by closing loopholes that allow governing boards in cities and counties to hire temporary workers to perform work that would otherwise be performed by permanent workers. 
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Pension Funds & Human Rights.
As part of our commitment to international human rights and a global movement for justice, SEIU is sponsoring AB 1967 (Torrico), The Responsible Private Equity Investment Act, to stop future CalPERS and CalSTRS investments with private equity firms partly owned by sovereign wealth funds that earn profits for countries with terrible human rights records.



Helping Children Succeed. We continue to lay the foundation for Helping Children Succeed, our long-term project to re-invent and better coordinate how the most vulnerable children in our state receive support and services. Our preparation includes ongoing research, member input, stakeholder conversations, and policy development.


Healthcare
Oversight of Private Hospital Sales.
Tarzana Nurses
On April 8 and 9, Tarzana RNs, lobbied in Sacramento at the Capitol, talking to State Senators and Assembly members about bills on which they soon would vote.

SEIU is seeking to ensure that communities are protected when private hospitals are sold by enhancing state oversight of private and district hospital sales. 

Cost and Quality Accountability (Transparency).By requiring healthcare providers and insurance companies to provide data on healthcare costs and quality, we will increase transparency and competition in the healthcare market, reduce costs, and increase quality. This will build on our work in AB x1 1. See our healthcare campaign for more information.
Continuing Healthcare Reform. We are currently evaluating every aspect of AB x1 1 to determine how to use this policy and political work as building blocks year-by-year.


Property Services

Airline Passenger Bill of Rights. As our property services division continues to organize support workers at major airports, SEIU will co-sponsor an “Airline Passenger Bill of Rights” to highlight how workers’ conditions affect safety and service at airports.
Support for Justice for Janitors. SEIU janitors in California are involved in a contract campaign this year, and we will build political support and educate the public on their struggle through a resolution supporting Justice for Janitors. 


Long-Term Care
Defending Low-Income Seniors and People With Disabilities From Budget Cuts. The Governor’s budget proposes to slash by 18% hours for IHSS clients’ essential life services such as grocery shopping and cleaning. The Governor’s budget also proposes a $324 million cut to SSI/SSP, which provides cash assistance fo low-income seniors and people with disabilities. 
Homecare Workers: Paycheck Issues.SEIU will work on legislation to address lost paychecks and will work on implementation of direct deposit legislation.

Homecare for Middle-Class Consumers. SEIU is working to make homecare more available to more people by allowing middle-income seniors and people with disabilities the option of paying for IHSS services at cost.

Self-Directed Care Pilot Program. We are working to finalize a bill, AB 1674 (Richardson), that will allow consumers in five counties to choose the provider of their care. AB 1674 was signed by the Governor pending amendments form the Administration.

June Primary Election Results

Election Update: SEIU Wins Major Victories, Defeating Prop. 98 and Helping Scores of Working-Family-Friendly Candidates Advance

In the June primary election, SEIU helped defeat the dangerous and deceptive Prop. 98, which would have gutted rent control and environmental laws and made it nearly impossible to build public works, by a 61% (No) - 39% (Yes) margin. We also helped pass real homeowner protection, Prop. 99, in a 62.5% (Yes) - 37.5% (No) vote.

For the California Assembly races – in a remarkable sweep – in every district where we endorsed a candidate, we won, and a 2/3 majority of SEIU-backed candidates won their Senate seats as well. In Congress, we helped Mike Lumpkin (D, CD 52) win his primary in the only district without an incumbent running. And in a closely watched, key local race, SEIU and labor allies helped lift longtime champion of working people Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas above the crowd in his L.A. County Supervisor bid, positioning him well for a November run-off.  

Click here for a complete list of SEIU endorsements and results.



Issue Updates

 Bill Status
 Political Update
 Legislative Update


Members Are Speaking Out!

David Green
 
"As a children’s social worker, our primary responsibility is to protectchildren and make sure they have safe, permanent homes. Our systemfunctions as the children’s parents while we help their parentsrecover, or find a family member or foster parents. We’re fighting for the children and families we serve. The children aren’t voters. They have no voice. They’re the most vulnerable membersof our society. That’s why I became a social worker, and that’s why I’m fighting the budget cuts." SEIU Local 721 David Green - Adoption Social Worker, County of Los Angeles

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Join Us For the Next Budget Lobby Day!

Sacramento Capitol
Our Voices DO
Make a Difference!
Next Budget Lobby Day:
 April 21st
 April 22nd
 April 23rd
 April 24th
 April 29th
 May 6th

 2008 Lobbyday Calendar 2008 Lobbyday Calendar