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The Budget and Why it is Important to Vote for Gray Davis October 2002 “The hundreds
of SEIU members wearing purple shirts day after day at the state house
along with their personal testimony had a powerful effect on the budget
debate,” When all the smoke cleared, and legislators and the governor finally passed a budget in the face of the economic crisis and major unexpected state revenue shortfalls, SEIU’s message came through. Two-thirds of the $1.83 billion SEIU asked for was restored to the budget, after the cuts made in the May revise. To deal with the unexpected $24 billion deficit in the budget, the governor and legislature were forced to make massive cuts, many of which fell on the social services. All of the social services programs took big hits. Medi-Cal, food stamps, mental health, child welfare, and adult protective services are all facing major reductions from last year’s budget. Many of these programs received increased funding during the good economic years of the Davis administration. In four years, Governor Davis increased funding for child welfare services by 73% over the last year of the Wilson administration, funding for adult protective services increased 75%, mental health 62%, and developmental services 54%. “At least the door was open and we could talk,” states Jerry Fillingim one of Local 535’s political directors. “During the previous Wilson administration we weren’t even welcome in the governor’s office. They were outright hostile to our programs.” Many fear the worst is yet to come, as the state revenues continue to falter with the lagging economy and stock market. “We need to be prepared for greater deficits in January,” Fillingim notes. “We have to make sure that Davis gets re-elected. At least he wants to work with us. If Simon is elected he is likely to go after the social services with a passion.” The only answer, if we are going to save social services funding, is to increase revenues. To do that we need a worker-friendly governor and a worker-friendly legislature. With the low voter turnout, every vote in this election will count. Many of the legislative races are very close. To get involved contact legislative political directors James Johnson or Jerry Fillingim. Legislative Victories Governor Davis just signed into law the following bills: Senate Bill 1156, mandating binding mediation between farm workers and growers during unresolved labor disputes. SB 1661 giving California workers the only paid family leave in the United States. AB 364 providing social workers with improved client-to-worker staffing ratios. (see article below) During the last four years the Davis administration has passed bills to increase the minimum wage, protect the eight-hour day, improve public employee pensions, increase homecare worker wages and benefits, reform nursing home staffing standards, and establish hospital nurse staffing ratios, just to mention a few. To find out more go to: http://www.calaborfed.org/
SEIU Local 535 Sponsored Legislation, AB 364, Signed By Governor In the face of California’s largest budget crisis, Governor Gray Davis signed Local 535’s legislation, Assembly Bill 364, on September 17. Tireless lobbying and political action by 535 members, staff, and SEIU State Council, to keep children safe by reducing caseloads for child welfare social workers, succeeded. AB 364 makes the legislature’s intent clear: the level of children’s social work required to protect those entrusted to our care will only happen by establishing minimum caseload standards and instituting at least a 20% annual caseload reduction. Funding of AB 364’s recommendations will be a top priority for scarce dollars in the 2003-04 state budget or, failing that, at least maintaining current funding levels for child welfare services.
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