Huffman on Behalf of Measures 1A-F
Our Assemblyman, Jared Huffman, wrote to say:
"Hi Folks,
I am reaching out to you, my state and local Dem central committee appointees, with a special request that you please support Measures 1A-F in the May 19th special election. I am joined in this request by all other North Bay legislators, the Assembly Democratic Caucus, California Teachers Association, and much of the Democratic party establishment, although I know some in our party do not agree.
The reason I am asking you to make the unpleasant choice of supporting these imperfect measures is simple: for all that it lacks, this is undoubtedly the best deal we are going to get from Sacramento for the foreseeable future, and it’s far better than the terrible choices we’ll be left with if the measures fail. We have seen the last Republican votes for taxes – probably for the next decade. Those Republicans who were brave/sane enough to cast votes for the budget deal are already facing recalls and primary challenges from within their own party. That means the legislature will have only majority vote tools – i.e., cuts – to bridge any remaining budget gaps.
And there will be more gaps. New revenue numbers indicate that the 2009-11 budget we just approved will be at least $8 billion short – that’s IF Measures 1A-F pass. If the measures fail, it gets much worse: an immediate $6 billion hit in this fiscal year, another $5 billion hit in fiscal 2010-11, a $13 billion hit in the following two years due to the early termination of the taxes we just approved, and the loss of $9.3 billion in Prop. 98 guarantees for schools.
The political reality is that virtually all of those losses will have to be backfilled with painful cuts that will fall disproportionately on schools, higher education, health and human services, parks and natural resources. And next time, we cannot count on another round of federal economic stimulus funding to soften the blow of state cuts.
You might not like the idea of an enhanced rainy day fund and spending limit (Prop. 1A), but this measure is workable, it will smooth out the spikes and crashes of state budgeting without sacrificing our commitment to schools and other priorities, and it is far better than what we will see on the next ballot if the measure fails. No one likes temporary borrowing from voter-approved First Five and mental health services programs (Props. 1D and 1E), but the alternative is even deeper cuts to the general fund safety net support we provide for kids and the mentally ill.
As you head to the state convention later this month, and as you consider these issues in your local central committees, please keep these sobering political realities in mind and please spread the word that while these are tough choices, they are critically necessary and the responsible thing to do under lousy circumstances. I hope I can count on your help.
All the best,
Assemblymember Jared Huffman"
"Hi Folks,
I am reaching out to you, my state and local Dem central committee appointees, with a special request that you please support Measures 1A-F in the May 19th special election. I am joined in this request by all other North Bay legislators, the Assembly Democratic Caucus, California Teachers Association, and much of the Democratic party establishment, although I know some in our party do not agree.
The reason I am asking you to make the unpleasant choice of supporting these imperfect measures is simple: for all that it lacks, this is undoubtedly the best deal we are going to get from Sacramento for the foreseeable future, and it’s far better than the terrible choices we’ll be left with if the measures fail. We have seen the last Republican votes for taxes – probably for the next decade. Those Republicans who were brave/sane enough to cast votes for the budget deal are already facing recalls and primary challenges from within their own party. That means the legislature will have only majority vote tools – i.e., cuts – to bridge any remaining budget gaps.
And there will be more gaps. New revenue numbers indicate that the 2009-11 budget we just approved will be at least $8 billion short – that’s IF Measures 1A-F pass. If the measures fail, it gets much worse: an immediate $6 billion hit in this fiscal year, another $5 billion hit in fiscal 2010-11, a $13 billion hit in the following two years due to the early termination of the taxes we just approved, and the loss of $9.3 billion in Prop. 98 guarantees for schools.
The political reality is that virtually all of those losses will have to be backfilled with painful cuts that will fall disproportionately on schools, higher education, health and human services, parks and natural resources. And next time, we cannot count on another round of federal economic stimulus funding to soften the blow of state cuts.
You might not like the idea of an enhanced rainy day fund and spending limit (Prop. 1A), but this measure is workable, it will smooth out the spikes and crashes of state budgeting without sacrificing our commitment to schools and other priorities, and it is far better than what we will see on the next ballot if the measure fails. No one likes temporary borrowing from voter-approved First Five and mental health services programs (Props. 1D and 1E), but the alternative is even deeper cuts to the general fund safety net support we provide for kids and the mentally ill.
As you head to the state convention later this month, and as you consider these issues in your local central committees, please keep these sobering political realities in mind and please spread the word that while these are tough choices, they are critically necessary and the responsible thing to do under lousy circumstances. I hope I can count on your help.
All the best,
Assemblymember Jared Huffman"
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