In an attempt to close California’s $15.2 billion budget deficit, Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed some of the largest cuts to vital investments in California’s history, including slashing more than $4.3 billion in funds to schools and students and nearly $3 billion from hospitals and critical health and human services for the sick and elderly.

The League of Women Voters of California strongly opposes the “cuts-only” approach to the budget that would be devastating to California’s families and our state’s future.

The following points will assist you in writing letters to local newspapers, posting comments to blogs, talking to friends, and contacting your elected representatives. Hand-written letters to your local elected leaders, including your Assembly Member or state Senator, will be most effective. And don’t forget to send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.

1. Ignoring the concerns of millions of Californians, the Governor’s revised budget simply proposes more of the same, making deep cuts to health care, senior and disabled services, schools, and investments in children.
   
   
2. The revised budget cuts are even deeper than in the Governor’s original proposal in some critical areas, such as health care. If enacted, these cuts would jeopardize the safety and security of California’s children, families, seniors, and the disabled.
   
   
3. The proposed cuts will impact California families in multiple ways, often compounding problems. Communities will receive cuts to their local schools, hospitals, in-home care programs for seniors, and foster care services for kids. The Governor’s short-term approach will have long-term, negative human and fiscal consequences.
   
   
4. The Governor’s budget also includes a distracting “power-grab” proposal that already has been overwhelmingly rejected by California’s voters and that doesn’t address the real concerns of California’s families. In fact, it undermines our system of checks and balances by giving the Governor unprecedented power to make cuts without approval from our legislators.
   
   
5. Our legislators and our Governor need to find real solutions that don’t jeopardize the education of our children, health care for the sick and elderly, or the environment.
   
   
6. We believe that California is ready to invest in our shared future and seek balanced solutions. We are working together with all Californians to hold our Governor and legislators accountable and make that happen.

See "About the Proposed Budget Cuts" for more information about the proposed cuts and our response.

For letter-writing suggestions, see "Handwrite a Letter to Your Legislator".

07/03/08