Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/15938
Also know as the Tax Fairness Act, Prop. 24 ends nearly $2 billion in special tax bre aks for big corporations, loopholes that don’t require the creation or protection of one single job in California (see related story “Prop. 24” on facing page). Virtually none of the tax breaks go to small businesses in our communities. This practice has had the effect of robbing billions of dollars from the state fund every year, and has been one of the major reasons why public education is currently in such a dire state. “The November election can be the critical turning point that California needs to get back on track,” says San- chez. “We must act now to help stop the damage being done to our public schools and students, and see that large corporations pay their fare share to fund public programs.” Over the past two years, legislators cut more than $17 billion from school funding, yet during the same period handed out tax breaks to large corpora- tions and oil companies. Tom Torlakson for state superintendent Another priority for the November election is electing Tom Torlakson as state superintendent of public instruc- tion. He is a candidate who has proved to have our students’ best interest in mind. Torlakson is a classroom educator with good ideas, as well as an active legislator who sponsored the CTA- backed Quality Education Investment Act — a bill that secured funding to bring extra resources to hundreds of lower-performing public schools. Torlakson fought to increase funding for text- books and technology. He will be an advocate for educators and students, and he will fight to help all schools get the funding they need. CTA’s slate of recommendations for Proposition 25, a common-sense solu- tion to California’s chronic budget problems that would break legislative gridlock by allowing a simple majority of legislators to approve the state bud- get — just like in 47 other states — in- s t ead of letting a sma l l minority of legislators hold it captive. There’s no disputing that Tom Torlakson a well-educated population is an important ingredient for a state’s growth and fu- ture success. To give citizens a proper public education is to give them options for fu- ture prosperi ty, which in turn stimulate the growth of the state as a whole. Funding schools is the wisest investment Cali- fornia can make. During this election we need to re- the November election includes re- electing U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, who is running against corporate can- didate Carly Fiorina, and passing CTA’s plan for victory Along with being members of the community most likely to vote, teachers are also among the group most likely to get out the vote — and that’s exactly what CTA’s Board of Directors was counting on when it approved the “Lesson Plan for Victory,” which sets forth a com- prehensive campaign plan for the November election. “With so much at stake, it is critical for our members to get in- volved in this campaign,” says CTA President David A. Sanchez. “Our priorities include electing Jerry Brown for governor and Tom Tor- lakson for superintendent of public instruction; passing the CTA-spon- sored Prop. 24, the Tax Fairness Act; and re-electing Barbara Boxer to the U.S. Senate. We will be do- ing everything we can to make sure that public education wins at the polls.” More than the average voter, CTA members have witnessed the impact that budget cuts have had on California schools. In the past two years, they’ve seen what 22 California Educator | SEPTEMBER 2010 the loss of $17 billion to educa- tion looks like: Class sizes have increased dramatically; art, music, physical education, athletics, and counseling programs have been eliminated from many schools; and more than 32,000 educators have lost their jobs. “Our goal is to make sure every student has a good neighborhood public school filled with quality educators, who are respected and supported,” says Sanchez. “This is what we fight for every day. And it’s a fight we can win by staying focused and working together.” Electing CTA-recommended candidates and passing Prop. 24 to repeal corporate tax loopholes will not only have a tangible effect on the future of public education, but will set the stage to pursue a new funding initiative in 2012. “All of these candidates and ini- tiatives are connected, and a stra- tegic part of achieving our long- term goals,” says Sanchez. “No- vember’s election will be the critical turning point our state needs to get back on track.” Between now and November, CTA members will have the oppor- tunity to get involved in a variety of ways in the campaign. Many chapters will opt to reach out to friends, neighbors and supportive voters through area phone banks. Members will also be given election materials they can use to reach out to their colleagues and make sure they have the facts about the can- didates and issues. Election materials are already post- ed on CTA’s website, www.cta.org, as well as on www.standupforschools. org, and more will be forthcoming as the campaign gears up. Included in the material are a voter guide, fact sheets, fliers and guides to conduct campaign meetings. CTA is also using social media for this campaign. Members can keep up to date with the 2010 campaign by texting “CTAVOTES” to 69866 (be sure to include your name and ZIP code) and by e-mail- ing 2010campaign@cta.org. Dina Martin member that students have a right to receive a quality education. This is what we fight for every day. And it’s a fight we can win by staying focused and working together. Photo courtesy of Torlakson for SPI campaign