May 19th Ballot Recommendations

SEIU California State Council

Executive Board Meeting, April 1st, 2009

On Tuesday, May 19th, there will be a California Statewide Special Election.

Any registered voter can vote by mail or at a polling place.
- The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is May 12: 

www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm
- Find your polling place on Election Day: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_ppl.htm

For more information about how and where to vote, as well as other ways you can participate in the electoral process, call (800) 345-VOTE or visit www.sos.ca.gov

SEIU Voting Recommendations
Prop 1A Starts a "Rainy Day" Fund…

 

When It's Raining Now – & We're Under Water

 

1A:  NO.This measure will result in drastically reduced funding for ALL of the vital public services SEIU members provide and rely on at state and county levels.
Fill out a short No on 1A commitment form right now!

1B: YES. Though tied to Prop 1A, Prop 1B supports an important principle: the Governor can’t raid the funds voters set aside for education in Prop. 98.

1C: YES. This measure to change and modernize the state’s underperforming lottery helps the state budget situation with $5 billion in potential revenue.

1D: NO. This measure takes $600 million in 09-10 from children’s health programs to plug the budget hole and hundreds of millions in future years as well.

1E: NO. This measure raids $230 million/year for two years from money voters intended to direct to mental health services.

1F: NO POSITION.This measure suspends legislators’ pay if the budget is late, which will do nothing to solve the real problem: too little revenue to pay for current services.

1A "RAINY DAY" BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND - OPPOSE Requires additional revenue above historic trends to be deposited into state "rainy day" fund, limiting spending. Higher state tax revenues of roughly $16 billion from 2010–11 through 2012–13 to help balance the state budget. 
Why SEIU is opposing it:
- This will guarantee a future of ongoing cuts to the vital public services SEIU members provide.
- This will make it impossible to restore the deep cuts made to our schools, colleges, healthcare, home care, and other vital public services – even when the economy improves.

Fill out a short No on 1A commitment form right now!
We also need volunteers for phone banking to educate co-workers.


1B EDUCATION FUNDING. PAYMENT PLAN - SUPPORT Requires supplemental payments to local school districts and community colleges to address recent budget cuts.


1C LOTTERY MODERNIZATION ACT - SUPPORT Allows the state lottery to be modernized to improve its performance with increased payouts, improved marketing, and effective management. Requires the state to maintain ownership of the lottery and authorizes additional accountability measures. Protects funding levels for schools currently provided by lottery revenues. Increased lottery revenues will be used to address current budget deficit and reduce the need for additional tax increases and cuts to state programs.
 

1D CHILDREN'S SERVICES FUNDING - OPPOSE Provides more than $600 million to protect children's programs in difficult economic times. Redirects existing tobacco tax money to protect health and human services for children, including services for at-risk families, services for children with disabilities, and services for foster children. Corresponding reductions in funding for early childhood development programs provided by the California Children and Families Program.


1E MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING. TEMPORARY REALLOCATION - OPPOSE Amends Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63 of 2004) to transfer funds, for a two-year period, from mental health programs under that act to pay for mental health services for children and young adults provided through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program. Corresponding reduction in funding available for Proposition 63 community mental health programs.


1F ELECTED OFFICIALS' SALARIES. PREVENTS PAY INCREASE IN BUDGET DEFICIT YEARS - NO RECOMMENDATION Encourages balanced state budgets by preventing elected Members of the Legislature and statewide constitutional officers, including the Governor, from receiving pay raises in years when the state is running a deficit. This measure suspends legislators' pay if the budget is late, which will do nothing to solve the real problem: too little revenue to pay for current services.

More details on SEIU California State Council's voting recommendations