http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/community/tag_rss/education Today's New York Times examines the nationwide state budget deficit problem - the total deficit faced by the states is at least $66 billion (and is likely higher since the NY Times didn't include, for example, the $1 billion deficit in Washington State). California figures prominently in their story, of course, but the story makes it sound as if our deficit is solely the product of the economic crisis: The plunging revenues -- the result of an unusual assemblage of personal, sales, capital gains and corporate taxes falling significantly -- have poked holes in budgets that are just weeks and months old and that came about only after difficult legislative sessions. "The fiscal landscape," said H. D. Palmer, a spokesman for the California Department of Finance, "is fundamentally altered from where it was six weeks ago." There's no doubt that the worsening economic picture is partly responsible for the budget deficit. But the NY Times article does not explain to its readers that reckless tax cuts have created a structural revenue shortfall - for decades the state hasn't taken in as much money as it needs to fund core services. Arnold's reckless VLF cut is responsible for nearly $6 billion of the deficit. Still, given a deficit of this size, and the fact that numerous states are facing deficits, suggests that a federal response is a necessary part of the solution. Already cities such as San José are seeking part of the $700 billion federal bailout to help ease their cash crunch. Henry Paulson isn't interested - gotta keep the funds flowing to his Wall Street cronies - but a federal bailout of state and local governments needs to be a central part of President Obama's economic stimulus come January. That bailout could be focused, for example, on filling gaps in health care, education, and transportation. The bailout funds could be made contingent on state-level solutions - here in California, for example, a smart and fair revenue proposal linked with a federal bailout could eliminate the deficit. A revenue solution MUST be part of this - given the likelihood of state budget deficits for the next several years. The alternative is massive and crippling cuts to schools like that described in today's LA Times: District officials -- already in the process of identifying $400 million in cuts for next year -- almost certainly will have to reopen this year's budget and find about $200 million to $400 million to meet an anticipated shortfall. The budget-cutting is becoming a painfully familiar routine: Officials had to eliminate 680 jobs just to balance the books last June. "It was hard enough to do that, so doing it again, in the middle of the school year" could be chaotic, said Megan Reilly, the district's chief financial officer. Those cuts would push LA even deeper into recession. Without a coordinated state and federal response, the economic picture is going to get MUCH worse. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/CLH3 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/CLH3/commentary#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:51:05 PST http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/CLH3 Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/8e501f6005c216fc9b_j8m6b99j3.jpg Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign 1 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/CLH3/ Having barely escaped Arnold's demands for budget cuts this spring, education in California is in his crosshairs yet again. Arnold is announcing that California now faces a $10 billion deficit and as a result, held a closed-door meeting with education leaders warning them of cuts of $2 to $4 billion that could come as soon as next month. The reaction was swift : "There is just no way we would be able to cut that much," said Scott Plotkin, executive director of the California School Boards Assn., who was at the meeting. "For virtually every district I know of, this would be catastrophic."... Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. David L. Brewer said that Schwarzenegger's proposal would cost the district as much as $440 million. He called cuts of that magnitude "impossible." "They're going to have to go out and borrow money because we'd go bankrupt," Brewer said. "Fiscally, we can't do that without literally having to shut down schools." By law, teachers cannot be fired unless they are told months in advance. "You can't just hand out pink slips," Brewer said. Teachers "have protections, they have union agreements." Plotkin was also quoted in the SF Chronicle saying he thought this was an effort by Arnold to scare the education community into backing a budget that wasn't cuts only. But I am not so sure this is the case. Arnold is talking as if education cuts are inevitable, and if he were truly interested in avoiding them, he would not have called a lame-duck legislature into session - he'd have waited until December 1 and allowed a new legislature with fewer Yacht Party members to take their seats and solve the mess. Complicating matters is the fact that the budget deal that resulted from Don Perata's surrender in September is worse than we expected according to an analysis posted at the California Progress Report: In a nutshell, the budget agreement includes new sweeping midyear cut authority for the executive branch, a restrictive new state spending cap that was billed as an expansion of the state's rainy day fund, and new corporate tax breaks that will cost the state more than $1 billion a year. The first two proposals require voter approval, presumably in a June 2009 special election, but the tax breaks are permanent unless reversed by the Legislature or at the ballot box. All three proposals were carefully crafted by their proponents but were jammed through the Legislature at the last minute without receiving property scrutiny and review. Democratic leaders have vehemently opposed similar proposals in the past but surrendered on all three proposals in one fell swoop--a boon to fiscally conservative Republicans who have fought for a restrictive state spending cap and midyear cut authority for years. The spending cap and midyear cut authority undermine the power of Democrats to protect education funding. Apparently these aren't yet in effect, but Democrats have already given up as much as they can. Beginning November 5th their job is to fight, fight, fight. They will likely have a voter mandate to do so. They will also have common sense on their side. Cutting education spending - or any other government spending - during a severe recession is an act of madness that guarantees the recession will get deeper and last longer. Arnold needs to not only look at a new sales tax, but admit his error and restore the Vehicle License Fee, which would restore $6 billion to the budget immediately and make this immeasurably easier to solve. Only if Democrats hold their ground will that happen. And for them to hold their ground, we must make them do so. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/CLQt http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/CLQt/commentary#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:56:05 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/CLQt Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/8e501f6005c216fc9b_j8m6b99j3.jpg Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/CLQt/ Yesterday, Al Gore emailed a special video message to members of the Courage Campaign discussing how vitally important it is that our budget priorities not abandon education. And he asked everyone to tell him what we think about the current threat to education funding here in California at Current.com . Already, 18 members of the State Assembly have recorded video responses and posted them at Current. But even more impressive is that there are already close to 200 (probably more by now) responses by people from all over. For instance, CarolynGillis said: We need to increase our investment in financial and economic literacy for all our K-12 students and their parents so they have a chance to use their earnings wisely and to choose skills that empower them to create a future for themselves and their families. commenter lritz noted: If we want to retain our competitive edge in this world, we need to refocus our priorities on education, and turn the system upside-down. Make people want to be teachers. Make kids want to go to school. Reward those that show potential with scholarships, and squash the myth that sports is the only way for underprivileged kids to escape their situation. Make college affordable and available to anyone who wants it. Stop grading kids on their ability to take tests. Dismiss the idea that we have to constantly boost self-esteem by not failing kids or holding them back a grade. This is the sort of dialogue our education system needs if we're going to save it. But I certainly can't say it any better than Al Gore himself: http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/CLZ4 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/CLZ4/commentary#comments Thu, 22 May 2008 20:43:51 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/CLZ4 Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign 2 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/CLZ4/ Tomorrow, the San Diego Unified School board will vote on laying off more than 900 teachers in the face of budget cuts rippling down from the state's current fiscal crisis. That's an average of more than four teachers leaving every school in the district. While the future of our next generation becomes cloudier, Republicans in the legislature continue to defend tax free yachts. It tells you a lot about where their priorities lie. Driving home this point as the state wades through the budget process is vitally important, and that's why Courage Campaign and the California Nurses Association have come together, producing a new Yacht Party ad that needs your help to reach the air. Arianna Huffington emailed Courage Campaign supporters earlier today to explain the importance of this ad and this meme overall: http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/CLZb http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/CLZb/commentary#comments Mon, 12 May 2008 16:47:47 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/CLZb Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign 1 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/CLZb/ Cross posted at Calitics Senator Jeff Denham knows he can't win on his record. He knows that the state's budget is screwed, he was and remains part of the problem and people are smart enough to put it together. And since he can't resist a recall on his actual performance as a legislator, he's left bitching and moaning over ticky-tack stuff that only matters if you're scared of being judged on your merits. So today, Denham filed two criminal complaints against Senator Don Perata. They object to some pretty innocuous and obscure actions- like a Senate staffer translating a transcript- which, while worth being looked at, have nothing to do with the actual substance of the recall election. It's misdirection, it's obfuscation, and it's a refusal to take responsibility for the crisis that the state is facing. Par for the course these days from the Yacht Party and it's preference for party loyalty over productive governance. Senator Denham continues to base his entire campaign on the notion that his behavior is no business of anyone outside the district. He complains that Perata shouldn't be involved, outside activists shouldn't be involved, that the eyes of the state have been unjustly turned to his record and district. But when Senator Denham obstructs a workable budget, it isn't just his district that suffers. Kids are losing teachers in every corner of the state because of the budget shortfall that Denham helped create. Vital services are being slashed across California because Denham refuses to deal in fiscal reality instead of partisan obstinacy. We're all in Jeff Denham's district, and if he's going to whine about it, maybe he should find a different line of work. Update: Just received a press release (full text below the flip) accusing Denham's campaign of using state email accounts to solicit state employees for campaign purposes. State resources should, it seems, be used to protect his own hide but not to provide basic services to Californians. Presumably the resources in question do not exclusively come from his Senate district. We're all in Jeff Denham's district. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/Bth http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/Bth/commentary#comments Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:25:42 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/Bth Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/Bth/ Over 2,000 students from UC, CSU, and community colleges gathered yesterday for a protest march from Raley Field in West Sac to the State Capitol to denounce Arnold's planned higher ed cuts, and 200 more gathered at Arnold's LA office. The protest is getting big coverage - it's the featured article at SFGate this evening : "Kick us out, we will vote you out," the crowd in Sacramento chanted as they walked along a bridge crossing Highway 99, through downtown and onto the Capital steps. The line of students, which included hundreds from the Bay Area, stretched six blocks, and dozens of motorists honked in support as they drove by. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/Btx http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/Btx/commentary#comments Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:29:19 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/Btx Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/8e501f6005c216fc9b_j8m6b99j3.jpg Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/Btx/ When Arnold took office in late 2003 he argued that one of the state's highest priorities was to "reform" a workers' compensation system that was supposedly driving businesses, and therefore jobs, out of the state. And the Legislature did so, cutting benefits to injured workers in order to try and keep business and the Chamber of Commerce happy. Five years later California faces a similar crisis, as skilled workers flee the state in droves, taking their salaries and therefore their positive economic impact with them. But this time, Arnold seems happy to see their backs, because it's teachers and not well-connected corporations that are fleeing a state thanks to poor budget priorities: http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/BtM http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/BtM/commentary#comments Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:40:36 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/BtM Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/8e501f6005c216fc9b_j8m6b99j3.jpg Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/BtM/ During the morning drive today, NPR ran through John McCain's healthcare plan , which isn't really a plan so much as a plot to throw sick people to the wolves. But what struck me most wasn't how ineffectual McCain's plan would be (make private insurance cheaper...somehow), but how dramatically he apparently misunderstands the fundamental nature of the health care crisis in this country. Senator McCain believes: The problem is not that most Americans lack adequate health insurance...The biggest problem with the American health care system is that it costs too much. Which of course ignores the millions of people who have health insurance but still can't get adequate health care . And the millions of people who have become uninsurable because of prexisting conditions. Those people aren't John McCain's concern apparently, and why would it be since his goal is protecting insurance companies? What's even more shockingly ignorant though is the parallels he tries to draw with other national programs. McCain flatly rejects the notion of mandated health insurance (a debatable issue, granted) with the argument that he wants everyone to have a college education too, but he's not going to force it on them. Unfortunately for McCain, this country mandates over a decade of education already. You know- the basic level necessary to reasonably function in modern society? Yeah, that one. Which is exactly what a health insurance mandate would be doing. So either McCain doesn't realize that kids are required to go to school in this country (rather unlikely), he doesn't understand what a health insurance mandate is (also unlikely, but less so), or he's just being willfully deceptive and dishonest with the country (I think we have a winner). It's amazing not only that he thinks he can get away with this, but that the people in this country deserve to be treated with this sort of intellectual contempt. I can't wait to beat this guy. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/Btb http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/Btb/commentary#comments Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:01:09 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/Btb Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/Btb/ It looks like we've finally figured out how to get decent policy out of Senator Jeff Denham. All it took was to directly threaten his own political wellbeing. In response to being targeted for recall, Denham has embarked on a rather elaborate woe-is-me defense campaign, part of which is legislation to reform the signature gathering process . This sort of reform- which would make the law much tougher on out-of-state sig gatherers, might have been quite relevant back when the Dirty Tricksters were bending the law to the breaking point . But Senator Denham waited until his own butt was on the block to suddenly take an interest in the integrity of the signature gathering process. This is a solid bit of legislation, and as the first article notes, Don Perata was one of the aye votes today. It's just a shame that Denham's personal interests don't appear to coincide more often with the people in his district or the state of California. He ran strong on education to get into office, but once his personal career was better served by toeing the CRP line, he blew that one off . He talks a big game about opposing pay raises, but then he accepts them . That one is obviously the most literal of personal profit trumping good policy. So as Denham's reform of signature gathering works its way towards passage, it's an opportunity to appreciate the potential for good policy. It would just be nice if Senator Denham would do the right thing because it's the right thing once in a while. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/BtQ http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/BtQ/commentary#comments Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:04:26 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/BtQ Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/BtQ/ Here in the dog days of April, as the state awaits the governor's May Revise, frustration seems to be setting in over the budget. The real political battles will begin in earnest after the May Revise, but the jockeying for position has been going on for some time, including in the state's media. Unsurprisingly, the media wants to spin the budget crisis as a failure of all Sacramento politicians, when in fact the current impasse is the responsibility of one group alone: the Republicans. As an article in Sunday's Sac Bee would have us believe , there is "scant support for budget changes." But a deeper look shows that while Democrats have already proposed budget fixes, such as closing the yacht loophole and creating an oil severance tax (as exists in nearly every other state), it is the Republicans alone that have blocked meaningful budget action. And why have they done so? Republicans want us to believe that *any* revenue solution is economically damaging: However, Sen. Dave Cogdill of Modesto, the GOP's incoming leader, said the state should not take away credits at a time when the economy is struggling. Other ideas that have yet to gain traction would raise income taxes on high-wage earners or amend Proposition 13 to assess businesses in the same way as residential property. The latter, known as "split-roll" property tax, would require that commercial and industrial properties be reassessed more regularly, bringing the state an estimated $3 billion annually. Cogdill dismissed all as non-starters. "We should help the general fund by stimulating the economy and be a more beneficial partner with industry, rather than stifling them," Cogdill said. But whose economy is stimulated by revenue cuts? Who actually sees this so-called economic growth? And who suffers from the spending cuts that are forced by the revenue cuts? A closer look at the overall situation shows that the Republicans' claims are nonsense. Tax cuts provide economic growth for a wealthy few, but cause economic distress for pretty much everyone else - *especially* when those tax cuts come at the expense of education. More below. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/BtX http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/BtX/commentary#comments Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:17:10 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/BtX Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/8e501f6005c216fc9b_j8m6b99j3.jpg Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign 1 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/BtX/ What began in Alameda last month is now beginning to spread around the state. As their future is taken from them by a Yacht Party determined to protect wealth and aristocracy through crippling education cuts, California students are beginning to fight back. In rallies that are unfolding across the state, they are speaking out for opportunity, for education, for democracy. And on April 18 and April 21, they are poised to make the loudest statement yet against the destruction of education in California. More on that below. But first, how is Arnold responding to the crisis in public education? The governor, whose own children attend private schools, made a fundraising visit to St. Margaret's Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano yesterday at the request of Mimi Walters , GOP assemblywoman and parent of two St. Margaret's students. He was met by over 200 protestors who denounced Arnold's education cuts : Chanting "Save our schools" and "Shame on you," about 200 teachers, students and parents from across South County lined the narrow sidewalks in front of a Mexican restaurant Thursday afternoon, protesting Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed education cuts as the governor rolled up for a fundraiser. Sheriff's deputies on foot and motorcycle ordered protesters to stay off the private driveway of El Adobe de Capistrano restaurant in the moments leading up to the governor's 6:15 p.m. arrival. Schwarzenegger entered the downtown San Juan Capistrano eatery through a side entrance and did not address the protesters. Schwarzenegger's communications director, Matt David, told reporters the governor "wishes he could be outside with these protesters" and that he applauded their efforts. "This is the last thing he wants to do," said David, explaining that the governor hoped to work with lawmakers to find a different solution to the state's budget crisis. "He understands how important it is to fund education." Of course, nobody forced Arnold to propose a $4 billion cut to K-12 funding. And he can reverse those cuts in his May revise. But he will get his chance to join these protestors over the next week, as California students are about to unleash an unprecedented wave of activism to stop Arnold and his attacks on public education. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/Btq http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/Btq/commentary#comments Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:48:27 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/Btq Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/8e501f6005c216fc9b_j8m6b99j3.jpg Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/Btq/ Cross posted at Calitics Jeff Denham's first tv ad is up and running, and it's striking a familiar "how dare you" tone, but mixing in a new bit of "you want me on that wall, you NEED me on that wall." Via Capitol Alert, is the transcript as delivered by former Secretary of State Bill Jones : The recall was launched against Sen. Jeff Denham for one reason only. He refused to vote for a budget billions out of balance. But then the non-partisan Legislative Analyst proved him right, forecasting an additional $10 billion in red ink. Local newspapers label this recall an "Abuse of the ballot box." (The Monterey County Herald 2/17/2008) -- a "sham." (The Madera Tribune, 3/21/2008) "Petty politics" (Hollister Freelance 2/19/2008) And "Unjustified" (Fresno Bee 3/20/2008) Saying this recall is "Just plain wrong." (Merced Sun-Star 2/11/2008) I agree. Vote No on the Recall. At some point between last fall and now, Denham and Republicans forcing their budgetary priorities on the Democratic majority has turned into Republicans standing strong in the face of fiscal irresponsibility. At least in Jeff Denham's head. If Denham really wants to hold himself up as a paragon of budgetary virtue, he might need to answer a few questions. Like why he keeps accepting pay raises even though he proudly/loudly opposes them . He also better start coming up with an actual defense for why he stood in lockstep with his GOP brethren in sacrifice of his (supposed) legislative priorities : http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/Btc http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/Btc/commentary#comments Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:44:34 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/Btc Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/Btc/ Tomorrow night, thanks to your help and contributions, the Yacht Party video will air on cable TV  in Sacramento - specifically CNN, MSNBC, The Daily Show, and the Colbert Report. And our success has been getting attention. Lisa Vorderbrueggen at the Contra Costa Times writes: The ad has gotten quite a bit of attention. It’s a clever poke at Assembly Republicans who refused to close a tax that allows purchasers of boats, RVs and other recreational toys to keep them out-of-state for 90 days and and avoid paying sales taxes.... But at a time when the state may have to lay off thousands of teachers and cut services to the poor, the symbolism of allowing a yacht buyer to sit in Mexico for three months to avoid paying taxes is hitting a nerve.  This is a fantastic development - and as noted below, in the email we sent out to our members, it can get much better. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/BWz http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/BWz/commentary#comments Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:23:05 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/BWz Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/8e501f6005c216fc9b_j8m6b99j3.jpg Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/BWz/ Cross posted from Calitics I have to run but there isn't a lot that needs to be added here. I want you to start by taking these two quotes from today from the Governor "Now even though I was criticized by Sen. Perata, who said, 'Boy, he should not mind our business. We know exactly what we are doing.' Well, obviously they don't know exactly what they are doing because otherwise we wouldn't have a $14 billion deficit. If everyone knows exactly what they are doing, we wouldn't have the budget mess in 2003 which created the recall election." and "Sometimes you see schools protesting out there or sending me letters," Schwarzenegger said. "I'm with them. I wish I could stand there protesting, too. Because we have to protest the budget system. Not this year's budget. The budget system is the failure. That is what has to be corrected as quickly as possible." Now, try to pick just one direction to run with in those brief words. Will you talk about the Governor throwing stones from his glass budgetary house? Will you talk about how this is the perfect summation to your thesis on how the Governor talks like a moderate reformer but acts like a through-and-through (occasionally insane) fiscal conservative? Will you talk about how productive it usually is when resolving disputes to point fingers and call people names? Will you talk about the absurd, both-sides-of-the-mouth, 'I support education above everything except that it's the first to go' rhetoric? Those are just a few conversation starters for you. Reflect on them, offer your own, whatever. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/BWT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/BWT/commentary#comments Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:11:36 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/BWT Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/BWT/ On Thursday, we shared with you our video highlighting how Republicans in the state legislature prefer to protect tax loopholes for yachts and private jets instead of protecting education ( can you help us get the video on the air? ). Well, it didn't take long for the video to make the rounds. Calfornia Majority Report , The Ruth Group , and COTAM were among the blogs that helped to spread our message. Over at the Contra Costa Times, Lisa Vorderbrueggen ran with our concerns over the "sloophole" that the GOP seems to love so much. Plus, the Yacht Party video gets the full rundown over at the Sacramento Bee's Capitol Alert , explaining The controversy stems from a recent Assembly vote in which Republicans killed legislation to close a loophole allowing wealthy Californians to avoid paying state sales and use taxes on luxury boats, recreational vehicles and planes by keeping them out of state for three months after buying them. Commenter racherman at Capitol Alert rightly notes that "Closing tax loopholes on yachts is not going to fix the fundamental problem of our state budget." There isn't $16 billion hiding behind the sloophole. But we start by fighting the most absurd and shocking flaws with the budget and work into the real heart of the issue- opening a real discussion about fundamental budget issues. But we can't get there until we get past here . This is an opening salvo to trim some of the most unbelievable budgetary chaff. How far it goes and how hard it hits depends on your support between now and 12 p.m. on Tuesday . http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/Bcn http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/Bcn/commentary#comments Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:24:40 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/Bcn Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/Bcn/ Thanks to the current budget problems, here in San Diego I've had friends telling me about teachers receiving pink slips during class; adding insult to injury in an amazingly cruel way. In the meantime, rumors are flying about projections of 60 student average class size when the dust settles. Needless to say, this is grabbing people's attention. As the budget crisis begins to hit the people who are directly devoting themselves to raising a smarter generation, Republicans in Sacramento are fighting tooth and nail to protect their rich yachting friends. The contrast is, to say the least (and steal from Rick Jacobs), shocking and unbelievable. Education is where everything else in society starts, so to begin the cuts there...well...you tell me. Further down, Rick Jacobs has the details on the opening salvo from the Courage Campaign: ---------------------- http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/BcJ http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/BcJ/commentary#comments Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:14:19 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/lucasoconnor/BcJ Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/BcJ/ Today's LA Times shows how the proposed budget cuts are sending school districts scrambling to get layoff notices out by the March 15 deadline. Although these notices may not always lead to an actual firing, they do have a destructive effect on teacher morale. Already several of my family and friends who teach K-12 in Orange County have begun dusting off their resumes in anticipation of losing their jobs. In my post at Calitics on Sunday I argued that the cuts, if allowed to happen, would have a reckless and destructive impact on California's economy. The LA Times article points out that there is another potential catastrophe that these cuts might cause. If teachers are fired and class sizes increase, it is going to be more difficult than ever to meet the unreasonable mandates of the odious No Child Left Behind law. Rialto Unified has made some recent academic gains, and its superintendent worries that deep cuts could stall progress. The district scored a 661 on California's latest Academic Performance Index, below the state's target of 800; the API measures schools and districts on student scores in math, English and other subjects. While the state API is a different metric than NCLB, if a district is having trouble meeting the API target, it is likely to have trouble meeting the much more onerous NCLB targets. As most educators - and anyone who has been a student - knows, the larger the classes, the more difficult it becomes to learn and achieve. Among the penalties for missing NCLB targets include "replacing staff" or a takeover by "a private education firm." Either outcome involves less schools, less local control, less parental involvement, and an even deeper economic hit to thousands of working Californians. Arnold's proposed budget cuts could therefore touch off a cascade of events that delivers a crippling blow to our public education system. The always excellent California Budget Project has put together a detailed list of the impact of those cuts, including a district-by-district list of cuts . Most district will lose at minimum $500 per student, with some rural districts going well above $1,000 per student. Those are staggering numbers. This was supposed to be the year of education . Perhaps it still can be - it can either be the year we saved education, or the year we destroyed it. Sometimes our choices really are that stark. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/BWB http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/BWB/commentary#comments Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:56:04 PST http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/roberticruickshank/BWB Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/8e501f6005c216fc9b_j8m6b99j3.jpg Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/BWB/