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Archived
News and Projects Call for Letters to Oppose Budget Cuts
* The Budget Conference Committee is still meeting and now will be looking at the entire budget proposal again (through possibly Sunday, June 23 and possibly beyond that) with potentially every budget item - even those previously approved, as potential candidates for budget reductions and cuts. These include programs impacting people with disabilities such as Medi-Cal Optional Benefits, to programs impacting people with developmental disabilities. Many of those funding restorations could be reveresed in the coming days. * While this same Conference Committee approved (previously) reductions and cuts to the regional center purchase of services budget, and other related cuts, we should still press for restoration of those cuts - and more perhaps just as important, advocate against any additional cuts that they may contemplate as they look over the budget proposal again. * The statewide purchase of services standards, while rejected by both budget subcommittees, and most recently last week by the Conference Committee COULD come up again, if the Adminstration proposes again that it is a signficant cost savings process. * Some people in the Administration have said that the cuts impacting people with developmental disabilities are not as massive as cuts to other health and human service programs (mental health is often cited). We respond that the rights and services that people with developmental disabilities earned and need should never be measured on how badly the state treats other people. * Please write AND call!!!!!
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO * MORE letters AND phone calls to state legislators and other policy makers are urgently needed from people with developmental or other disabilities, their family members, providers (and staff), and other advocates regarding the critical need to OPPOSE cuts and reductions to services and supports. (If you sent your letters in earlier, in in early June, thanks - but you need to write AGAIN! * IF you have already sent letters or made calls, get friends, co-workers and others who haven't, to write and send these letters to Sacramento! * Register to vote (for the November General Election).
WHEN NEEDED - NOW! * Your letters and calls are NEEDED now. Please write AND call! Letters are needed to help influence the conference committee members, and the legislative leadership, as the Conference Committee reviews the budget proposal again. EVERY letter, every phone call helps (letters have more impact than calls - so do both if you can). They need to hear from people - and how proposed cuts, cuts already made - and the possibility of MORE cuts would impact you and your families!
SOME DO'S AND DON'TS IN LETTER WRITING TO LEGISLATORS * Don't make your letter too long. * DO get this letter (and your phone call) out THIS WEEK!!!!! * DO write about personal experiences. That is always useful, though keep it to the point and brief. * Don't be rude in the letter (or in a phone call) - that NEVER helps. * Don't send petitions - they are almost never effective. * DO write (print clearly) your address and name (and sign it too). This is VERY important, as many legislators will not take seriously letters without addresses. * DO keep your letter focused and to the point. * DO fax or mail your letter as soon as possible. * Don't email your letter - at this point in time, email from the public to legislators and legislative staff do not have the same impact as hard copy letters. In the future that could change - but not now. If you want to email, do that in ADDITION to faxing or mailing your letter. * DO get as many people as you can to write letters - friends, neighbors, co-workers (even if they are not directly connected to people with developmental disabilities). * DO try to individualize your letters if possible - but if not, that is okay, as long as you sign each one - and if only using one letter, that it is addressed (in this case, to the Governor), with a "cc" on the letter listing each person or committee it is being sent to.
SAMPLE LETTER (YOU CAN USE THIS AS A GUIDE OR COPY)
Honorable XXXXXX Address Address
Dear XXXXXX
As a person with developmental disabilities/parent/family member/provider/staff/advocate I/we am/are writing to urge you and the Legislature to OPPOSE cuts or reductions impacting people with developmental and other disabilities. I/we oppose cuts to Medi-Cal, including optional benefits, which impact people with disabilities, and cuts to SSI/SSP. We/I support the needed budget increase for caseload growth for people with autism; lunchtime supervision for those people with developmental disabilities in supported employment, and more. We/I oppose the statewide regional center purchase of services standards.
I/We urge the restoration of $52 million in cuts made to the regional center purchase of services budgets - funding critical for people with developmental disabilities needing community services and supports. I/We urge funding for the actual costs that providers are paying to run work activity programs for people with developmental disabilities by not freezing the statutory rate increase.
[add your own personal experience here if you can]
We/I urge you to do the right thing. Please - no more cuts or reductions.
Sincerely yours (sign your name)
PRINT your Name (important) Print your address (important)
cc: Senate President Pro Tem John Burton* Senate Budget Committee Chair Steve Peace Senator Wes Chesbro* Senator Dick Ackerman Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson* Assembly Budget Committee Chair Jenny Oropeza* Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg* Assemblyman John Campbell * - critical members to contact
SEND YOUR LETTERS AND MAKE YOUR PHONE CALLS Try to send to everyone on the target list below. If you cannot, priority is at least the Governor, Sen. Burton, Assembly Speaker Wesson, the chair of the budget conference committee and the chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. You can address letter to the Governor and "cc" to the target list, though individualized letters are sometimes more effective. Please note - the target list of people to send these letters to WILL change as the budget process moves forward. Please always use the most current UCP Budget Alert. Thanks!
Honorable Gray Davis* Governor of California State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 FAX: 916/445-4633 Phone: 916/445-2841
Honorable John Burton* Senate President Pro Tem California State Senate State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 FAX: 916/445-4722 Phone: 916/445-1412 District: 3rd - Democrat, all of Marin, northeastern part of SF, Corte Madera, Novato, Petaluma, San Rafael, Tiburon, southwestern part of Sonoma County,part of Santa Rosa. note: Leader of the State Senate, strong advocate for people with disabilities, low income, seniors and other vulnerable communities and is a significant force on budget issues. Advocating tax increases to bridge budget gap.
Honorable Steve Peace, Chair Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee California State Senate State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 FAX: 916/327-3522 Phone: 916/445-6767 District: 40th - Democrat, La Mesa, El Cajon, Chula Vista, National City, Lemon Grove, half of San Diego. note: chairs the budget conference committee and also chairs the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee.
Honorable Wes Chesbro* California State Senate State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 FAX: 916/323-6958 Phone: 916/445-3375 District: 2nd - north coast area, part of Santa Rosa, Ukiah, Eureka, Sebastopol, Napa, Arcata, Clearlake, Crescent City, Healdsburg, Vallejo. Note: Member of the budget conference committee, chair of select committee dealing with people with developmental disabilities and chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee covering health and human service issues.
Honorable Dick Ackerman California State Senate State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 FAX: 916/445-9754 Phone: 916/445-4264 District: 33rd - Republican, Brea, Tustin, Fullerton, La Habra, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Orange, Buena Park, Yorba Linda, parts of Anahiem, Irvine, Santa Ana, San Juan Capistrano, East Lake, El Toro, Olinda. Note: Vice chair of the Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee. Running for Attorney General. Was on last year's budget conference committee.
Honorable Herb Wesson, Speaker* California State Assembly State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 FAX: 916/319-2147 Phone: 916/319-2047 District: 47th - Democrat, Culver CIty, part of LA (including Century City, Rancho Park and Wilshire) Note: Installed as Assembly Speaker February 6 and is a key part of the legislative leadership.
Honorable Jenny Oropeza, Chair* Assembly Budget Committee California State Assembly State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 FAX: 916/319-2155 Phone: 916/319-2055 District: 55th - Democrat, Carson, parts of Compton, parts of LA to the west and Long Beach, Harbor City, West Carson, Wilmington, part of West Compton. Note: Senior member of the budget Conference Committee for the Assembly. First time on the Budget Conference Committee.
Honorable Darrell Steinberg* California State Assembly State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 FAX: 916/319-2109 Phone: 916/319-2009 District: 9th - Democrat, entirely within Sacramento County, central part of City of Sacramento, Natomas, Laguna area, Del Paso Heights, Florine, Freeport, Fruitridge, Greenhaven, Meadowview, Land Park, North Sacramento areas. Note: Now the Assembly Appropriations Committee Chair. Strong advocate for people with low incomes, disabilities, seniors. First time on the Budget Conference Committee.
Honorable John Campbell California State Assembly State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 FAX: 916/319-2170 Phone: 916/319-2070 Distict: 70th - Republican, chunk of southeastern Orange County (esat of I-5), Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Orange, Villa Park, parts of Irvine, Anahiem, Santa Ana, Tustin, and San Juan Capistrano, and El Toro, North Tustin and Rancho Santa Margarita. Note: Vice Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. First time on the Budget Conference Committee.
* - especially important to contact
FOR MORE INFORMATION Marty Omoto, Legislative Director CA Coalition of United Cerebral Palsy Associations Read More Archived News Stories AB896 General Human Interest Litigation State Budget
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