Carrying a chain with locks, workers say proposed spending cap and budget cuts will permanently “lock in” abysmal funding levels for schools, healthcare and “lock out” opportunities for our children’s future

SACRAMENTO, CA -- As the Governor and legislative leaders continue to deliberate on proposed solutions to the State’s $40 billion budget shortfall, SEIU workers protested Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposal for more devastating budget cuts on top of $10 billion in reductions already made to schools, health care, social services and other vital programs this year, and a rigid budget cap that would force more cuts to education, health care and other critical services year after year.  

“California has been hit the hardest by the economic meltdown. Unemployment is skyrocketing, food prices are up, and wages are down. More then ever, we need to protect the vital public safety net that keeps our kids, our grandparents, people with disabilities and our communities safe.  The Governor’s proposed cuts and spending cap unfairly target low and moderate income families, and set the stage for perpetual cuts to schools, health care, and public infrastructure that will damage our economy and quality of life for generations. ” said Ben Mendoza, a Park Maintenance Worker and SEIU member.

Protestors marched with chains holding dozens of locks to illustrate how the hard budget cap proposed by the Governor will permanently lock California into school funding levels that are near the worst in the nation and lock in health care funding at this year’s abysmally low levels, eliminating the potential to maintain and improve health care services for all Californians in the future.  Furthermore, the budget cap would result in our children being locked out of opportunities to succeed.
 
The Governor’s proposal for a rigid budget cap would devastate our public infrastructure and the social services that we all rely on in hard times, which are right now.  The Governor’s budget cap formula would:

• Force deep budget cuts each and every year to education, healthcare, and other services
• Set this year of crisis as our budget baseline, guaranteeing that public services would never be able to recover
• Result in dramatic long-term reduction of public services funding, because cuts made in bad years could never be restored in good years
• Shred California’s safety net at a time when unemployment is the highest it’s been in a generation

“The Governor’s proposed budget cap would lock in funding levels based on the worst economic period since the Great Depression,” said Mendoza. “If the Governor thinks that this year is ideal, we must change his mind by ensuring that he hears from all Californians who want better schools, improved health care, and a future for our kids.”