[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Anthony Wright
Executive Director of Health Access California

Shane Goldmacher at the Sacramento Bee's Capitol Alert has a useful compilation of some of the reactions to the budget. Here's some that touch on the health budget, from Health Access board leaders, member organizations, allies, and others:

Marty Hittelman, president of the California Federation of Teachers: “The governor’s budget revision tries to protect education, but lacks the funding to do it... Shifting the bulk of the cuts to health and human services is a disguised cut to education. These programs aren’t isolated from schools. Our students need to come to school ready to learn, and they can’t do that hungry or sick.” “School kids did not cause this crisis,” said Hittelman. “Their teachers and school staff are being confronted with uncertain futures. It’s time to put in place a fair, stable and progressive funding source for education and other vital services.”

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The state's top progressives are throwing their weight behind Prop 93, the Term Limits Reform initiative.

The campaign is soon expected to release a long list of elected progressive supporters. Meanwhile, just about every major progressive group in the state -- in addition to the California Democratic Party -- has issued its endorsement.

Sierra Club, Equality California, Greenling Institute, California Professional Firefighters, SEIU, AFSME, California Church IMPACT, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, California League of Conservation Voters, California State Council of Laborers, and the California Labor Federation have all endorsed.

The Term Limits Reform Measure -- which would give members more experience in each house of the legislature but reduce terms to 12 years -- continues to poll well in independent polls. Its only soft spot is among Democrats. Many oppose the notion of term limts, period. But this measure is a reasonable improvement to the law, which is why the state's leading progressive groups and elected officials are behind it.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Two more statewide labor unions today endorsed the Democratic health care bill scheduled for a vote on Monday in the State Assembly.<> <>The California State Council of Laborers and California Conference of Carpenters both announced their support of AB 1X1, the historic compromise health care reform bill co-authored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata.<> <>"We understand the need and importance for health care coverage," said California State Council of Labors Director Jose Mejia. "We believe there is now a window of opportunity to move forward with health care coverage for all, specifically this plan which intends to cover the most venerable of our state population.<> <>"We are well aware that nothing is perfect as we introduce something new," he continued. "Not moving forward would only deteriorate what we have fought for, for so long. We congratulate and commend Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez for his vision and insistence on health care reform."<> <>Daniel Curtin of the California Conference of Carpenters also announced his support for the bill. He will be among the speakers at a press conference on the legislation with Speaker Nunez on Monday.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]