CIPC BUDGET ACTION ALERT

June 16, 2008

Calls Needed Today to Democratic Budget Leaders -

Thank Them & Urge Them Not to Cut Services for Immigrants!

On June 12th, the state budget conference committee began a marathon round of meetings to reconcile the Senate and Assembly versions of the budget. The Governor's most recent budget plan included several proposals that would seriously harm low-income immigrants, including children, elderly and persons with disabilities. Although the Assembly and Senate budget committees rejected some of these cuts, it's possible that they will be raised again as negotiations continue.

Please call Democratic Budget Conference Committee members and leadership today, thank them and urge them to hold the line on immigrant programs:

Democratic Leadership:

Senate Pro Tem Perata (Oakland) 916-651-4009 510-286-1333

Speaker of the Assembly Bass (Los Angeles) 916-319-2047 323-937-4747

Budget Committee Leaders:

Senator Ducheny (San Diego) 916-651-4040 619-409-7690

Assemblymember Laird (Santa Cruz) 916-319-2027 831-425-1503

Senator Machado (Sac., San Joaquin, Solano, Yolo) 916-651-4005 209-948-7930

Assemblymember Leno (San Francisco) 916-319-2013 415-557-3013

Suggestion of what to say on the call:

"My name is ______________ and I live in (your town).

I'm calling to thank you for rejecting devastating budget cuts proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger, particularly to health and human services programs that serve low-income Californians. Specifically we applaud your rejection of the proposal to eliminate the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) and proposals to deny Medi-Cal benefits for lawful immigrants and to increase barriers for immigrants eligible for Emergency Medi-Cal. Cutting critical cash assistance to 9,500 elderly and disabled who may become homeless or worse is cruel and unthinkable. Denying preventive care to low-income immigrants is inhumane and increases the likelihood that simple health care problems will become more costly emergencies.

I thank you and urge you to hold the line on these cuts as well as on other devastating cuts that are still on the table. The cuts to health, human services and education will hurt (my family, my neighborhood). This is because ( give examples: my children attend public school; I go to a community clinic; CalWORK provides me with critical support.)

California needs more than a cuts-only approach to fixing the state budget. Call today to deliver the Message: Stop the Cuts! For more information on the budget contact Cary Sanders at: (510) 663-8282 ext. 303