Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/55384
ACTION STATE COUNCIL BARGAINING UPDATES GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL 28 31 32 LOOK FOR NEW COVERAGE OF THE NOVEMBER ELECTION AT WWW.CTA.ORG IN THE COMING MONTHS. CTA STATE COUNCIL PREPARES FOR NOVEMBER ELECTION, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR GOVERNOR'S TAX INITIATIVE FOLLOWING A THOUGHTFUL and spirited debate, CTA's State Council of Edu- cation accepted the recommendation of its Political Involvement Committee and voted to support the governor's tax plan, which provides additional funding for schools and pays down the state's debt. The governor's initiative, called the Schools and Local Public Safety Protec- tion Act of 2012, raises about $7 billion annually for education and other essen- tial services by raising income taxes on the wealthy and instituting a temporary half-cent sales tax hike. In signing on to sup- port the initiative, CTA joins what promises to be a broad coalition of labor, education and business groups that have gotten behind the proposal, including the Service Employ- ees International Union. Following the Council meet- ing Jan. 29, CTA President Dean E. Vogel stated: "Educa- tors know that California can- not continue to cut its way out of ongoing budget problems. We also know that not every- one in California is paying their fair share, and that's why we are supporting the governor's tax proposal, which taxes the wealthiest Californians in order to bring additional revenue to our schools, colleges and other essential public services. 28 California Educator / February 2012 "The governor's initiative is the only ini- tiative that provides additional revenues for our classrooms, closes the state budget defi- cit, and guarantees local communities will receive funds to pay for the realignment of local health and public safety services that the Legislature approved last year. It's time to put California back on track, and this ini- tiative is the best way to do that. It's the right choice for our students and their families, our communities and our state." In voting to support the governor's ini- tiative, State Council adhered to budget principles it had adopted previously for tax initiatives. Those criteria are that any tax initiative approved is progressive in nature and promotes tax fairness; that it funds public education and other essential ser- vices; that it generates $8 billion to $10 bil- lion and helps close the state budget deficit; that it is supported by a broad coalition; and that it's winnable. The debate in Council centered on both the governor's initiative and the California CTA President Dean E. Vogel addresses State Council. CTA Photo by Terry Ng