Vacation Themed Rally for California Budget at the State Capitol

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Hayley Leventhal
Reporter
California Progress Report

Over 1,000 people gathered on the lawn of the Capitol building Wednesday to play golf, gamble, and eat popsicles. Beach balls drifted through a crowd of hula skirts and purple shirts. These beach balls, however, carried an important message to California Senators. “Don’t pass the ball,” one read, “Pass the budget.”

“In need of some food, clothes and gas money,” read another. “So can I have my $.10 an hour raise please?”

With the budget 61 days late, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000 members and supporters held a vacation-themed rally on the steps of the capital.

“Right now we’re not a healthy state,” Local 1000 member Tina Black-Uhlich said, “We are not in a healthy condition.”

The union was holding the rally, Black-Uhlich said, trying to get Senators back to pass a budget. In the meantime, the lack of a budget is preventing state employees from providing important services and products. “Our hands are tied at where we’re working,” she said.

According to information provided by the SEIU, more than $1 billion for state services has gone unpaid since July 1, including $300 million to child-development and preschool programs, and $170 million to special education and remedial school programs. $227 million has not been paid for Medi-Cal reimbursements to hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and adult day care centers.

The Assembly reconvenes next week on August 20th, and it remains to be seen if there will be a budget by then.

In response to the budget stalemate, Governor Schwarzenegger has promised Republican Senators that he will use his line item veto authority to cut $700 million from the Democrat’s proposed budget, but they remain unsupportive.

Senate pro Tem Don Perata (D-Alameda) told reporters last week that the California Senate will not address any legislation until a budget is approved. “Rest assured,” he said, “if this budget is not passed…the Senate will take up no new issues-none.”