SEIU Local 99 members rallied, lobbied, took a midnight ride to Sacramento, testified at budget hearings, signed petitions, and called and e-mailed Governor Jerry Brown to urge him to sign a state budget that protected education and early learning programs and services. It worked!
On June 28, 2012, Governor Jerry Brown signed a state budget for 2012-13 that DOES NOT include many of the things we’ve been fighting for all year long. Here are some of the things we secured in the 2012-13 budget:
Categorical funding is protected. This is money that is set aside to pay for many of the programs and services that Local 99 members provide including special education, nutrition, and early education. Governor Brown had initially proposed to dismantle this funding. We fought back and made sure that this money will continue to be guaranteed for these vital student programs and services.
Transportation funds will remain flexible, allowing school districts to continue to provide home-to-school transportation for thousands of students.
Child Care & Development funding is protected. We fought off the “realignment” of child care and child development funds from state to county control, which would have meant there would be no guarantee that money allocated for these servcies would be spent on child care and development programs. Additionally, reimbursement rates will not be cut.
Cuts minimized. While the Governor included last minute cuts to preschool and child nutrition programs, some changes were made that minimize the deeper cuts originally proposed by the Governor. For example, Proposition 98 monies will be used to fund preschool programs.
The fight is not over. Much of the new budget hinges on voters approving Prop. 30 — Governor Brown’s “Schools and Safety Protection Act.” This initiative will be on the November 6 ballot. If it passes, half of the money will go directly to or school districts that need it so badly. If it does not pass, education will be cut $5.5 billion.
We must talk to our families, friends and c0-workers about voting YES on Prop. 30, a sensible plan that saves education from further cuts by making sure the rich pay their fair share in taxes and by increasing the sales tax by 1/4-cent — less than we were paying last year.
We also need to uncover the trick and vote NO on Prop. 32, the Special Exemptions Act. This initiative will prevent us from coming together to elect the leaders who make the decisions that impact our jobs, schools, families, and communities.
Watch tv coverage from our Midnight Ride to Sacramento Rally!
“This is the second time I went to Sacramento to advocate for students. I told Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield about the student I work most closely with and how budget cuts affect him. I can’t wait to show my student the photos of me talking to the legislators, fighting for his education.”
Laura Christopher
Special Education Assistant, Van Nuys High SchoolLaura pictured with Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes’ Chief of Staff, Raul Bocanegra
