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August
1, 2002
Alert #6-2002
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR’S COLUMN
Building a Grassroots Network
California’s budget crisis is a timely reminder to those of
us in the religious community that we need to build an effective
statewide grassroots network to make our voice heard in the legislative
process.
Our Public Policy Coordinator, Elizabeth Sholes, will be touring
the state in late September and early October to conduct local advocacy
training seminars for the religious community. Designed for pastors
and lay leaders, these workshops will be an important opportunity
to learn about the nuts and bolts of the legislative process and
what works in terms of effective advocacy.
As of this writing, workshops have been scheduled in San Jose (September
29), Visalia and Fresno (Sept. 28), and San Diego (October 19).
Other cities yet to be scheduled include Los Angeles, Orange County,
San Bernardino, Long Beach, Sacramento, and Oakland.
More details will be published in the California Council of Churches’
newsletter JUSTICE SEEKERS later in August. If your city is not
on the list and you would like to schedule a workshop in your area,
call Elizabeth Sholes at (916) 442-5447 or e-mail her at sholes@calchurches.org.
CALIFORNIA
BUDGET STALEMATE - URGENT ACTION NEEDED
On Saturday, June 29, the California State Senate passed its version
of the 2002-2003 state budget, which included not only a substantial
number of cuts but also some revenue enhancements. The budget passed
the Senate with the swng vote of Maurice Johannessen (R-Redding),
who is now an outcast in his own party.
The Senate budget was passed with $13 billion in cuts in services
and programs compared to that of 2001-2002 and an addition of only
$3.6 billion in revenues. The remainder of the gap will be closed
with transfers, deferrals, and borrowing.
To date, the State Assembly still has not approved a budget in any
form, and it is not even currently discussing the budget publicly.
California Controller Kathleen Connell announced Wednesday that
she is now no longer able to issue checks for many state employee
salaries, for disbursements to vendors and contractors, and, most
important, for critical payments of safety-net items that involve
state funds. The stalemate, therefore, is rapidly becoming a crisis.
The Assembly needs a two-thirds vote to pass a budget, but as of
this writing is at least four votes short of that required target.
Assembly Republicans have avowed they will not vote for any tax
increase including those contained in the Senate version of the
budget, and some Democrats, notably Dean Florez (D-Shafter) are
also beginning to discuss voting against the Senate budget version.
Budget negotiations are currently taking place behind closed doors
with the Governor and legislative leadership.
We urge you to contact your Assembly members to express your support
for passing the Senate version of the budget. You may access detailed
information concerning your Assembly member from www.assembly.ca.gov
.
CRITICAL BILLS FACE VOTE IN EARLY AUGUST
When the full legislature reconvenes August 5, it will take up several
bills California Church IMPACT supports:
AB 1947 (Carl Washington D-Paramount) This bill provides public
assistance for those persons convicted of a drug-related crimes
who enroll and remain active participants in an authorized drug
rehabilitation program. This bill enormously improves the likelihood
that these people will succeed in the program since they will have
the requisite support for themselves and their families during treatment.
AB 1984/SB 1478 (Darrell Steinberg D-Sacramento; Bruce McPherson
R-Santa Cruz) These companion bills authorize federal money for
afterschool programs be directed toward ten pilot afterschool projects
for high school students. Many afterschool programs exist and will
continue for middle and elementary school children who have benefited
significantly from them. Currently there is only one such program.
AB 2386 (Fred
Keeley D-Boulder Creek). One method of curtailing budget expenses
is to limit eligibility for social programs. This bill extends assistance
and eligibility for those in California’s welfare assistance
program—known as CalWORKS—who are moving from welfare
to work. This bill offers critical state support to those who have
one of three conditions that make their progress through training
and education more difficult, including being enrolled in a college
course or program that takes longer than the designated time; having
family health or other crises requiring the recipient’s presence
and attention; having a physical or mental disability that impairs
the recipient’s full participation in training.
AB 2395 (Jackie Goldberg D-Los Angeles) This bill directs the state
to provide federally-funded breakfast programs to all students in
under-performing schools that currently have no breakfast program.
Assemblymember Goldberg, a former teacher, notes that the link between
adequate nutrition and school performance is statistically compelling.
More important, no child should try to learn while hungry.
Please write your Assemblymember and Senator to express your support
for these measures. You may access addresses through our web site,
www.calchurches.org. If you need more information on these bills
or assistance in crafting a statement, please call Elizabeth Sholes,
Public Policy Coordinator, (916) 442-5447.
GOVERNOR
DAVIS SIGNS LANDMARK ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MEASURE
If ever there was a question concerning the importance of legislative
advocacy from the faith community, be assured that it may well have
been the deciding factor on AB 1058 (Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills).
AB 1058 for a reduction in greenhouse emissions (CO2) from cars
and light trucks. This bill was the target of a massive advertising
campaign from the auto dealers and manufacturers that spent millions
to defeat its passage. However, we in the faith community worked
diligently through direct lobbying, letters, phone calls, and e-mail.
The bill was signed by Governor Davis last week.
The critical swing votes in the legislature were all people who
heard and listened to the message we delivered concerning stewardship
of our earth. All of these legislators, despite initial opposition,
voted for the controversial bill, supporting the faith community
message over that of powerful and wealthy lobby groups. It is a
victory for our planet! Thank you to everyone who took time to contact
a legislator in support of this important legislation.
LOOKING FOR ANGELS
California Church IMPACT and the California Council of Churches
are in the process of completely redesigning their joint website
to make it more user friendly. The Board of California Church IMPACT
wants to include on the new website a very easy- to-use and effective
advocacy tool called CapWiz.
CapWiz will allow you to look up the names, addresses, phone numbers
and e-mail addresses of your local, state and federal policymakers
simply by typing in your zip code.You will also be able to e-mail
messages to your state and federal legislators directly from our
website using our sample letters and legislative alerts. The Children’s
Defense Fund and Bread for the World already make use of this important
advocacy tool.
The annual cost to IMPACT will be $3,500 a year, with a one-time
set up charge of $2,000. Since these funds are not currently in
our budget, we are looking for angels who will underwrite these
costs for the first year. If you are interested and want more details,
contact Executive Director Scott Anderson (916) 442-5447 or email:
anderson@calchurches.org
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