CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION
NETWORK (CDCAN)
CAPITOL NEWS REPORT #003-2005
www.cdcan.us
January 5, 2005 - Wednesday evening
Linking people to disability rights and
unified action
Remembering The Late US Congressman
Robert Matsui of Sacramento
GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER STATE
OF THE STATE:
* CALLS SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE
SESSION TOMORROW
* WILL GO TO THE BALLOT IF
LEGISLATURE DOES NOT RESPOND
* PROPOSES PLAN TO CUT SPENDING
"ACROSS THE BOARD"
* NO MENTION OF SPECIFIC CUTS OR
REDUCTIONS
* SEN PRESIDENT URGES GOV TO GET
MORE FEDERAL FUNDS
* ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SAYS
HEALTHCARE & WAGES ALSO PRIORITIES
SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,
in his second State of the State address to the State Legislature put
forward major proposals that is likely to put him on a collision course
with legislative Democrats who control both houses, saying that the
"people of California demand reform" and called for a special session of
the Legislature tomorrow to begin work on his reform proposals. The focus
of the special session are the Governor's proposals to make spending cuts
"across the board" when expenditures raise above revenues; state public
pension reform, and reforms on teacher pay and performance and changing
how legislative districts are drawn up.
The Republican Governor said that if the
Legislature did not act on his proposals, the "people would demand reform"
and that he would be "on their side" in what clearly was a direct threat
to the Legislature that he would go over their heads and place his
proposals on the ballot directly.
Though he did not explicitly say he was
calling for a special election later this year, he did say that a special
session would allow work on his reform proposals to be on a fast track
that would allow for a vote by Californians "by early summer". Many of
his reform proposals - including those impacting education, would mean
changing the State Constitution, which would require approval of voters -
but most Democrats, at least at this point - seem unlikely to approve
them. Some moderate Democrats could be willing to support some of the
Governor's proposals, depending on the details.
Advocates for people with disabilities and
seniors are worried about the special session - and the proposed "across
the board spending cuts" and its impact to critically needed services and
supports, including those that impact the Security Supplemental Income
(SSI) and the State Supplemental Program (SSP). The Governor made no
mention of any specific program or budget item.
Calls for "Across the Board" Spending
Cuts - No Specifics In Governor's Speech
None of the Governor's major proposals
outlined in his speech had any detail, with many specifics to be released
as part of his proposed budget for 2005-2006 next Monday (January 10). As
expected, the Governor made no mention of any specific spending reductions
or cuts, though he did indicate that he would push forward a plan to cut
spending "across the board" as part of the special session of the State
Legislature that he called, to begin tomorrow (January 6).
Borrowing a phrase used by President
Ronald Reagan, Schwarzenegger said "We don't have a revenue problem. We
have a spending problem" citing that California can never outpace spending
even if taxes were raised because of formulas that automatically increase
expenditures for many programs. He did not mention any specific program.
The Governor said that "We cannot fix the
budget deficit without first fixing the budget system. I will submit a
balanced budget that will not raise taxes" but conceded he did not like
his budget plan and that deficits are "forced upon us by a broken [budget]
system".
Perhaps thinking of the massive protests
all last year against his proposed cuts to many health and human services
- many which he rescinded, the Governor predicted that "special interests"
will try to stop his efforts to reform the budget system.
"Special interests will run TV ads calling me
cruel and heartless," said the Governor, "They will organize huge protests
all around the Capitol and they will try to say that I don't understand
the consequences of these decisions. But let me tell you something. I am
very well aware there are lives behind those numbers. But I have a
responsibility for the fiscal health of this state and for the honesty
of its finances."
Responding to demands made by Democrats
and others the past year to raise taxes to help bridge the budget
shortfall as a way to avoid massive spending cuts, the Governor observed
that "A lot of people say Arnold 'why don't you just raise taxes and be
done with it?'...Of course we could raise taxes by billions of dollars,
but that would only further drive up the spending by billions of dollars.
California would never come out ahead. Our economy would suffer, jobs
would be lost and the people would be punished. Unless we get to the root
of the problem and reform the system, the budget will continue to be one
big fight, year after year after year...Therefore, I will submit cut
expenditures across the board when they grow above revenues."
Democratic Response
Leaders of both the Assembly and Senate
responded in a separate brief address, that was broadcast by some of the
network affiliates saying they expected to work together with the Governor
on common ground and to put aside partisan differences. However some
legislative Democrats predict a "huge" fight on many of his proposals -
and even Gov. Schwarzenegger said he expected a major battle.
SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM
* Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata
(D-Oakland) called the Governor's address a "wonderful speech" that
touched on the "important issues that Californians care about" and gave
the Legislature "a clear blue print".
* He complimented the Governor saying he was
"...providing bold leadership" and agreed that the State needs to "fix the
[budget] system that is broken."
* However Perata did not endorse any of the
proposals the Governor put forward, and he did urge the Governor to seek
more federal funding from Washington as a means to bridge the budget
shortfall. " I hope the Governor goes to Washington and talk to President
Bush," said Perata, "George Bush owes California a great deal - he owes us
a lot money that we paid and not gotten back..."
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
* Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los
Angeles) was less complimentary toward the Governor though did not
explicitly oppose - or endorse any of the Governor's proposals. He did
outline that there were other high priorities for the State that included
healthcare for those not covered by health insurance,; increasing the
minimum wage for workers and addressing the issue of lost jobs due to
outsourcing.
"As Democrats we believe doing what is right.
We believe we have to protect and nurture the California advantage....But
a key element is healthcare. Our health care system is teetering on
collaspe....emergency rooms and hospitals are closing. We cannot allow
this to continue. We are committed to finding common ground solutions...We
also need to provide health care to the more than 6 million Californians
who need insurance...We are committed to real reform on real issues. Our
priorities are your [California] family priorities. We are ready to work
with the Governor on common sense solutions..."
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES & SENIORS?
* SPENDING CUTS - The Governor made no
mention of any specific spending cuts nor did he mention specifically any
health or human service program. However major cuts are expected in his
proposed budget that he will release next Monday. In addition, he did say
that he will present a plan to make cuts "across the board" that raise
above revenues, when the special session of the Legislature convenes
tomorrow. Until that plan is released with details, the impact is
unknown. The Governor said that current budget spending tied to formulas
that automatically increased each year is causing spending to outpace
revenues. Presumably his proposals will address those funding formulas.
It is not clear from his speech if the Governor would merge his proposal
with an initiative proposed by Sen. John Campbell (R-Irvine) that calls
for a spending cap on the State budget.
* RETIRED SENIORS - For those seniors who are
retired and receiving State public employee pensions, the impact could be
enormous depending on the specifics of the Governor's proposal to reform
the state's pension funds.
* SPECIAL EDUCATION - Though he did not
specifically mention special education, it is not clear how the Governor's
plan to change teacher's pay based on merit and not tenure and that
employment is tied to performance and not by just "showing up"will impact
children with special needs. The Governor said he would submit proposes
to further vocational and charter schools which could have some impact on
people with special needs. He thanked those teachers who were making a
difference and asked for their help. The California Teachers Association
and other school groups are likely to oppose the Governor's proposals -
especially any proposal that would alter Proposition 98, the 1988
constitutional amendment that guarantees a certain level of funding for
public education.
HEALTH CARE
* Announced he would put forward a proposal
for a prescription drug discount card at prices comparable to those in
Canada for 5 million low income Californians, with minimum costs to the
State, though he gave no specifics. The impact to people with
disabilities and seniors is unknown at this point without specifics and
details, though the issue of high cost prescription drugs is a huge issue
for low income and middle class seniors, and those people with
disabilities who are not on Medi-Cal.
REORGANIZING STATE GOVERNMENT
* The Governor made no mention of his efforts
to overhaul the State's Medicaid program. However, in a separate
announcement released before his speech, a briefing by the California
Health and Human Services Agency on the plan to "redesign" Medi-Cal is
scheduled to be held on January 13 in Sacramento and January 21 in Los
Angeles. It is known that his proposed budget will contain some level of
detail calling for redesign of Medi-Cal, though no actual total dollars in
terms of savings (or cuts) are likely to be included at this point.
Impact to people with disabilities and seniors is unknown.
* The Governor targeted the troubled Youth
and Adult Correctional Agency as the first department to be reorganized.
The Governor will send his plan to reorganize to the Little Hoover
Commission for review. No details were given - and the impact to people
with disabilities depends on specifics. Several hundreds of people with
developmental disabilities are part of the correctional system. In
addition, if there is a cost savings made as a result of reorganization
those funds could be redirected for health and human services - though any
significant savings is not likely for several years.
* In addition, the Governor said another
component of his reorganization plan would include proposing the
elimination of "100 unnecessary boards and commissions", though he did not
specify which. He seemed to target those boards or commissions where
appointees draw compensation - though until a specific list is available,
the impact to people with disabilities and seniors is not known.
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT CHANGES - The Governor
said he would propose a plan that would take away the power of the
Legislature to determine the boundaries for legislative and congressional
districts - a process done every 10 years after the US Census is completed
- and put it in the hands of a panel of retired judges. The Governor said
he would propose this to "make both parties accountable" and added that
the current method of drawing legislative districts, which favor
incumbents, is "rigged". His proposal got a mixed reaction, with no
Democrats and even several Republicans not applauding. Because there were
not specifics, the impact of this plan to people with disabilities and
seniors is not known yet, but the impact could be significant. There is
some talk that the change in districts be made and completed in time for
the 2006 election.
NEXT STEPS
* SPECIAL SESSION - The Special Session of
the Legislature convenes tomorrow, which will run concurrently with the
regular session. The difference is that legislation (proposals)
considered in a special session runs on a much faster track, with the
normal waiting periods for bills (the time introduced and the time before
it can be heard in committee, and other similar rules) waived.
Legislation passed in a special session are also effective immediately
upon approval of the Governor. [in a regular session, bills passed and
approved by the Governor normally take effect the following January 1].
This is important if the Governor intends to have these proposals placed
on the ballot for a possible special election in the summer or fall this
year.
* BUDGET PROPOSAL - The Governor will submit
his proposed budget for 2005-2006 (budget year begins July 1, 2005) on
Monday, January 10, as required by the State Constitution. His "State of
the State" only provided hints of what is to be expected, and no details
of how major the cuts and reductions will be to health and human service
programs, education and other budget areas. The Legislature will hold
hearings on the budget proposal beginning in early March through May -
though the Special Session - given the proposals that impact the budget -
could change that schedule. In addiiton there are budget related
briefings on specific proposals scheduled for January 7th (Friday)
regarding the proposed closure plan for Agnews Developmental Center; and a
briefing on the Governor's plan to overhaul Medi-Cal, scheduled for
January 13th in Sacramento and January 21 in Los Angeles (duplicate
briefings). See CDCAN Capitol News Report #02-2005 for details.
* DISABILITY/SENIOR RIGHTS TOWNHALL
TELEMEETING - organized by CDCAN, is scheduled for January 14, Friday
morning from 10 AM to noon, to provide people with developmental and other
disabilities, seniors, their families, direct care workers, community and
other organizations and advocates with details and updates on the
Governor's proposed budget that would have been released just 4 days
earlier. To participate visit the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us and click
on "Telemeetings".
URGENT - CONTRIBUTIONS
NEEDED TO CONTINUE EFFORT CAN CONTRIBUTE VIA NON-PROFIT 501(c)3 see below
Many many, thanks again, to the
friends, people with disabilities and their families, community
organizations and others who have sent in generous and needed
contributions and donations. Contributions from people and organizations
is very urgently needed to keep the advocacy efforts going for the next
several months, as we work to establish non-profit status which we are
working on.. Apologies to anyone who have not yet received a thank you -
email, letters, calls have been overwhelming! Your help is needed though
to keep the effort going in 2005.
Please make check or money
order to: California Disability Community Action Network (or abbreviate
CDCAN) OR, if for tax deduction purposes, you can make the check out to
TTSR (Training Toward Self Reliance), which is a 501C-3 non-profit
organization, and indicate on check that contribution is for support for
"CDCAN".
A method to contribute by credit
card (through Paypal) is NOW set up on our website, at
www.cdcan.us [new
site address] Send contributions to: California Disability Community
Action Network (see below for mailing address)
* How To Receive CDCAN
Capitol News Reports and Alerts
The California Disability
Community Action Network is a non-partisan link to thousands of
Californians with developmental and other disabilities, people with
traumatic brain and other injures, seniors and their families, community
organizations and providers, direct care and other workers, and other
advocates. These action alerts and news reports is for all of them. If
you would like to get on this distribution (and conversely, get off of it)
please send an email with that request to:
martyomoto@rcip.com OR sign
up via the NEW CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us Sharing information is part
of our organizing effort. Please feel free to forward or copy this
(attribution is nice). We're all in this together!
* How To Contact CDCAN
Marty Omoto, director/organizer
New WEBSITE address: www.cdcan.us
1225 8th Street Suite 480
Sacramento, CA 95814 VOICE PHONE: 916/446-0013
FAX number: 916/446-0026
email: martyomoto@rcip.com
