[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Judy Darnell
State Advocacy Director
United Ways of California

When the May Revise is released, there is sure to be some bad budget news for everyone. But, even in tough budget times, the Legislature and Governor must set priorities and a top priority must be children’s health. Our leaders should work to ensure that this year’s budget decisions do not result in more children losing health coverage because it not only hurts kids, but will also make our state’s bottom line even worse.

While all the details of the May Revise are not yet known, current budget proposals put the health of more than 500,000 California children at risk and would increase the ranks of uninsured children by 60%. Two flawed policy proposals are responsible for these troublesome numbers.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Lisa Schiff

My daughter’s teacher was one of the 500-plus who received pink slips this month, preliminary notices that by law must be sent out by a certain date if layoffs are likely given budget forecasts for the upcoming year. This teacher, like so many in our district and so many who received those slips, is dedicated to and passionate about his work. His enthusiasm for teaching inspires the kids in his classroom to stretch themselves, knowing he is right there supporting them along the way.

Teachers like this are the lynchpin of a good educational system, but they are being put in jeopardy by our governor who persists in showing such disdain for the children in public schools and the educational professionals who serve them. Despite increasing pressure from the public and Democratic officials in Sacramento, Schwarzenegger still sees our schools as a major solution to his $16 billion fiscal crisis.